Last night, Alexander Isak hit the nuclear button in his bid to force a move away from Newcastle United.
We all saw the statement and it was quickly met with a strong response from the club, who made their stance clear and killed him with kindness.
Sadly, the situation is a total mess and anything but sorted as we near the final 10 days of the summer transfer window and our second game of the season: a titanic clash with Liverpool at St James’ Park on Monday.
But one thing it has clarified is Isak’s true colours. Just as we hoped for an apology to enable his reintegration back into the fold, Alexander Isak has willingly chosen to double down on his own selfish demands above the interests of…
The club that paid a record fee to bring him to the Premier League after a six-goal season at Real Sociedad
The manager and staff who improved him massively over the past three years
The players who’ve supported him and set up so many of his goals
The fans who worshipped him
And he’s chosen this route all whilst earning over half a million quid while on strike over the past month. And yet some people see him as the victim in all of this? I don’t think so.
Isak is desperately playing the “broken promises” card while simultaneously breaking the promise of a contract he signed (with no release clause) and his duties as a player on £150,000 per week. If anyone is breaking written promises, it’s him, with Newcastle’s statement clearly denying that any club official agreed to sanction his sale this summer.
I struggle to see how he comes back from this – but that’s EXACTLY why he’s done it. He’s happily disrespecting all the above, making efforts to burn bridges just so he can get what he wants, like that stroppy child in a shop having one last tantrum after not getting their own way.
No respect for his contract, the club, Howe, staff, players or fans, just a statement that pushes his own selfish agenda with no consideration for how it is impacting all of the above.
Newcastle need TWO quality strikers to even consider his sale – it’s not like we haven’t tried – but we need that AND a much improved bid from Liverpool, who have so far offered £110m (way below the asking price) and ran off.
Isak had the chance to mend relationships, reintegrate and following Ebere Eze’s lead, who has stayed respectful to Crystal Palace all while a likely move to Spurs is worked on.
Instead, he pressed the self destruct button last night in a move that has quickly backfired. I’m not sure who will be the winners from this sad, messy and potentially damaging saga, but Isak has ruined his legacy and shown his true colours in the process, forcing many in the media and world of football to question his character.
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