Alexander Isak was voted into the Team of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). However, the Swede did not attend the award ceremony and complained bitterly about his club Newcastle United. The club has now responded.
Alexander Isak was arguably Newcastle United’s most important player last season, scoring 23 goals in 34 games and playing a key role in helping the north-east England club qualify for the Champions League.
But now the striker seems to have finally cut ties with the Magpies. On Instagram, he initially thanked his “teammates and everyone at Newcastle who supported me along the way,” but then noted that he would not be attending the ceremony “because it doesn’t feel right.”
“Relationship cannot continue”
He then addressed his current situation. “I have been quiet for a long time while others have spoken,” Isak wrote: “This silence has allowed others to spread their version of events, even though they know it does not reflect what was said and agreed behind closed doors. The truth 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 coming to light now is misleading.”
There is apparently no turning back for Isak, because: “When promises are broken and trust is lost, a relationship cannot continue. That’s how things stand for me at the moment – and that’s also why a change is in everyone’s best interests, not just mine.”
NUFC: Conditions for transfer not met
The club sees things differently. “We are disappointed to have been made aware of a social media post by Alexander Isak this evening,” the Magpies wrote in an official statement, adding that they “would like to clarify that Alex remains under contract and that no club representative has ever agreed that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”
NUFC therefore wants to keep Isak, although it understands “that players have their own wishes, and we listen to their opinions.” However, the club does not believe the conditions for a transfer are in place. “Alex remains part of our family and will be welcome back when he is ready to return to his teammates,” the statement concluded.
Liverpool has been courting the striker for weeks
The 25-year-old has been heavily courted by Liverpool FC for weeks and wants to force a move to the Reds. Newcastle, however, has remained firm so far, reportedly rejecting an offer of around €125 million plus bonus payments.
Isak’s contract in Newcastle runs until 2028, so the Magpies hold all the cards. But the former Dortmund player (13 games, 1 goal from 2016/17 to 2018/19) is rebelling and has not trained with his teammates once this summer. First, he was officially absent due to a minor injury and kept fit at his former club Real Sociedad instead of going on tour to Asia with his teammates. Then he returned to Newcastle, but did not resume team training.
