Isak Goes Nuclear With Desperate Statement
Alexander Isak releases statement aimed at forcing Newcastle United's hand. The club needs to stand firm.
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This is getting ugly
It’s all so uncouth. It’s all so undignified. It’s all so unnecessary. It’s all so ‘urgh’.
Alexander Isak - not content with going on strike - has decided that this precise moment is the time to go nuclear and attempt to control the narrative around this ‘transfer saga’ by releasing a statement via social media. *Sigh*
It reeks of desperation if I’m honest. Of a way to force a move to his (apparently) beloved Liverpool. It’s certainly his way of burning any remaining bridges within the club. The club that let’s not forget:
a) continue to pay his handsome wages,
b) he is contracted to for 3 more years.
I get it, he wants to leave the football club - that is his prerogative. For whatever reason he wants, in fact he doesn’t even need to have a reason! As a fan that may hurt, but if that’s how he feels and he wants to move on then we should be able to accept that.
What cannot - and will not - be accepted though, is the way Isak has handled this. Going on strike, refusing to play in the pre-season before an offer had even come in is the behaviour of an idiot.
Hero To Zero
Five months ago Isak scored the winning goal in the cup final for Newcastle United and was rightly lauded for it. Now…just extreme disappointment in him as a human being. Way to ruin your reputation and legacy with the club (and its supporters) that helped you get where you are Alex. That’s gratitude for you, I suppose.
The whole episode is a masterclass in terrible PR. Yet, sadly, in football if you’re one of the best strikers around then you’re still likely to come up smelling of roses. Despite repeated criticism from a wide range of former professionals over the past month, whenever it is that he signs for Liverpool, all of this will simply be forgotten (by those not attached to Newcastle) and the articles and discussions will all be about how wonderful it is that Liverpool have finally ‘got their man!’
I think I may have been a little bit sick in my mouth.
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Prepare Yourselves
But let’s not pretend for one minute that this statement from Isak changes anything from a Newcastle perspective. Prepare yourself to be reading and listening to an onslaught of Liverpool-sympathetic members of the media claim that Newcastle should now just get a deal done. Many will say that Newcastle should take a cut price deal to get Isak out of the club. (Because, you know, we’re holding him hostage and he needs freeing.)
Don’t listen to it.
Don’t buy it.
The club have every right to stick to their guns and demand the amount they want. (My opinion has always been that anything above £130m would probably be accepted anyway, I don’t think the club ever expect the full £150m for him.)
In his statement Isak refers to promises that have been broken. Only the club and the player himself know if promises have been broken or not. This will not stop some journalists and fans on social media making their own narratives up to fit what they want to happen. If promises have genuinely been broken, then Isak’s wish to leave this summer definitely becomes more understandable. However that does not excuse Isak. It does not change the fact that he has handled this terribly!
He could have forced this move from within. There seems to be no good reason why he had to down tools. He could have continued training and playing and being professional, bided his time and got his move eventually.
Other players do this. All. The. Time.
So what should the club do?
The club remain within their rights to expect the fee they ask for. Isak will be sold, but only for the right price. Liverpool’s pitiful £110m offer was quite frankly a joke and the fact they have yet to come back with a realistic offer seems to have spooked Isak, who is being badly advised by his agent.
So the club should remain quiet and dignified - Eddie Howe has been doing a great job of remaining diplomatic over the past few weeks with unending questions asked about Isak.
The club, in private to any potential suitors, need to reiterate that Isak can be bought for the price they expect. The club could use the money from a PSR point of view, however they don’t need the money in order to keep operating. They can afford to keep Isak until January or until next summer.
The truth is that, sadly, it probably is in the best interests of everyone to get a deal done and to let Isak go because it will become an ongoing headache for however long he is at the club for.
Once this is over questions need to be asked though, about Isak yes. But also about Liverpool and the way they have gone about this whole scenario because it seems very shady - a juggernaut throwing their weight around and unsettling an elite player from a rival.
If it smells fishy and looks fishy it probably is fishy.
Expect to see movement on this transfer after Newcastle take on Liverpool at St James’ Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
**Update - 00:15 Wednesday 20th August**
Shortly after publishing this article Newcastle United did actually release a statement of their own via the club website. It reads:
“We are disappointed to have been alerted to a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening.
We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.
We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired.
We do not foresee those conditions being met.
This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.” NUFC Statement
To be fair to the club, that is a swift and solid response. Not one I expected them to make. However, it clearly shows a club that are standing firm and not going to allow themselves to be bullied by a player (Isak) and a club (Liverpool) who have not acted in a wholly appropriate manner.
Daily Mail journalist, Craig Hope, also tweeted out that the club now have no intention of doing business with Liverpool. Time will tell whether this is the case or not, however Isak certainly seems to have done himself no favours with his statement as the club have dug their heels in further.
Bruno
Two minutes after Isak posted his statement - Bruno posted this picture to his social media. Coincidence? Or a not so subtle way of sharing his opinion? I’ll let you decide.
Isak Statement:
I'm proud to be recognised by my fellow professionals with a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season for 2024/25.
First and foremost I want to thank my teammates and everyone at Newcastle United who has supported me along the way.
I'm not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn't feel right to be there.
I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now - and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.
Alexander Isak