Newcastle star reveals how Alexander Isak's controversial exit to Liverpool affected the Magpies dressing room - and shares what was 'not true' about the summer transfer saga
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Newcastle star Alexander Isak has defended his controversial exit to Liverpool, rejecting reports of a split in the Magpies' dressing room following his departure. Despite speculation around his conduct and the nature of his transfer, Isak emphasized that there are no hard feelings, acknowledging the professional nature of football careers and players’ desires to maximize their opportunities.
Isak, who secured a dream move to Liverpool for a British-record fee of around £125 million, was reportedly at odds with Newcastle throughout the summer transfer window due to alleged "broken promises." His dissatisfaction reportedly contributed to Newcastle’s decision to sell the striker, with the club signing Nick Woltemade and Yoana Wissa to fill the gap left by Isak’s departure.
Having scored 27 goals in 42 appearances last season, Isak established himself as one of the premier strikers in world football. However, concerns about his fitness history were raised before Liverpool finalized the deal. The club reportedly brought in a sports science expert to assess Isak’s injury record, given he missed 28 Premier League games across the previous three seasons. Despite these concerns, Liverpool believed Isak to be a strong signing with proven Premier League credentials.
Isak reflected on the recent setbacks this season, mentioning frustration due to how positive things were the previous year, but he confirms that the challenges have, in fact, brought the team closer together. He stated, “I think it can be frustrating at times... but I’m not silly... people have short careers, and they want to max out absolutely everything they can, so there’s no hard feelings from me.”
Overall, Isak’s move has been seen as a complex but ultimately professional negotiation, with both player and club moving forward without animosity, contrary to some media narratives about division within Newcastle’s squad.
PP