Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been involved in one the biggest transfer sagas of the summer, refusing to play for the Magpies as he looked to push for a move to Liverpool.
The Swedish striker has been training on his own for the majority of the summer transfer window, with the Reds having a £110m bid rejected for Isak’s services.
Under contract at St James’ Park, Isak has refused to play for Newcastle, but isn’t the first Premier League star to do so.
10 Premier League stars who refused to play for their clubs
10 Cristiano Ronaldo
Man Utd
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Man Utd in 2021 didn’t exactly go to plan, as 18 months later he signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
In the final days of Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford, he was an unused substitute at home to Tottenham Hotspur. It later emerged that the Portuguese superstar refused to come on under Erik ten Hag and was demoted to train with the youth side.
9 Raheem Sterling
Liverpool
raheem-sterling-liverpool-reading-premier-league
After coming through Liverpool’s academy and impressing at Anfield for the first team, Raheem Sterling wanted to leave the Reds in 2015.
Manchester City wanted to sign the winger and eventually did so for close to £50m, but it took Sterling to refuse to go and play for Liverpool in their pre-season tour. Sterling turned down numerous contract offers to stay with Liverpool and would go on to win four Premier League titles with City.
8 Paul Scholes
Man Utd
paul-scholes-man-united
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes has gone down as a Man Utd legend, however, the former Red Devils midfielder actually refused to play a game under Sir Alex Ferguson.
He was dropped for a clash with Liverpool in 2001 but was set to play the next match, a League Cup fixture against Arsenal. Scholes refused to show up, though, and was fined heavily by those at Old Trafford.
7 William Gallas
Chelsea
William-Gallas-Chelsea-Premier-League
William Gallas didn’t just refuse to play for Chelsea when he was looking to leave Stamford Bridge, he also threatened to score an own goal, get himself sent off, or make deliberate mistakes if he was forced to play.
After five years with the Blues, the French defender was eventually sold to rivals Arsenal, although Chelsea did end up signing star left-back Ashley Cole from the Gunners.
6 Riyad Mahrez
Leicester City
riyad-mahrez-pfa-poty
Riyad Mahrez signed for Man City from Leicester City in the summer of 2018, but in the January, the winger went on strike and refused to play for the Foxes as he pushed for a move to the Etihad.
The Algerian was fined by Leicester but did eventually return after going on strike and was welcomed back by both team-mates and supporters.
Riyad Mahrez Premier League stats
Games
Goals
Assists
Titles
5 Dimitar Berbatov
Tottenham
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Dimitar Berbatov for Spurs.
Man Utd eventually signed Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham on deadline day in 2008, however, the move wasn’t without controversy.
The Bulgarian striker got wind of Man Utd’s interest, however Spurs chairman Daniel Levy didn’t want to sell which ended up with Berbatov not playing for Tottenham against rivals Chelsea.
Levy and co complained about Man Utd’s move for the forward, but Ferguson got his man for £30m.
4 Dimitri Payet
West Ham
Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet
Former West Ham star Dimitri Payet
After starring at Euro 2016, West Ham rewarded Dimitri Payet with a new contract and Irons supporters loved him during his time at Upton Park.
That was until the beginning of 2017 when Payet refused to play for West Ham as he tried to force a move back to Marseille. He got his wish, with the Hammers bringing in £25m, but his West Ham mural was quickly removed.
3 Kieron Dyer
Newcastle
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During his time at Newcastle, Kieron Dyer was involved in numerous controversies, including refusing to play under iconic manager Sir Bobby Robson.
Dyer didn’t play on the right side of midfield against Middlesbrough in 2004 and Robson was sacked by the Magpies weeks later. Dyer has since called that decision his “greatest regret” and admitted he “let Bobby Robson down”.
2 Carlos Tevez
Man City
tevez-man-city
After swapping Man Utd for Man City, Carlos Tevez would win the Premier League at the Etihad, however, it wasn’t without drama.
He refused to come on in September 2011 against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, with Roberto Mancini banishing him from the squad. Tevez did return months later and helped City win their first ever Premier League title.
1 Leonardo Ulloa
Leicester City
ulloa-leicester
Shortly after winning the Premier League with Leicester City, Leonardo Ulloa refused to play for the Foxes again under Claudio Ranieri and felt “betrayed” by the Italian.
Ulloa was desperate to join Sunderland but didn’t get his wish, and after Leicester sacked Ranieri a month later in February 2017, the forward would return to the squad, even signing a new contract that summer.