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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak says he is "happy" that he could eventually make a transfer move to Anfield this summer — insisting that people don't know the full story of how the deal unfolded.
Isak didn't attend Newcastle United's pre-season tour in Asia and was then made to train alone when his teammates returned to the North East. The Swede played his first competitive minutes since May on Monday when facing Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier.
"Not everyone has the full picture, but that's something for another day," Isak told Swedish media after the country's 2-0 defeat. "I can't control everything that's said or written. But I'm happy that I became a Liverpool player."
Isak came on as a second-half substitute. Though he looked relatively sharp, he was unable to play longer than around 20 minutes and couldn't turn the result around.
"It's great that everything was settled before the camp and that I could focus on playing football again," Isak added. "It's been a fairly new situation for me, but you always learn and develop mentally off the pitch as well."
His manager, Jon Dahl Tomasson, explained that Isak is not yet fit enough to play more minutes. The striker was left on the bench for Sweden's draw with Slovenia last week and came on in the 72nd minute in Kosovo.
"This was the maximum number of minutes I could give him," Tomasson told Viaplay post-match, explaining the decision not to turn to Isak earlier with his country in need of some inspiration.
"We have talked in recent days about what risks there are and what is not a risk. It is extremely difficult to take a risk.
"I want to play him every minute. You can see right away that he is dangerous and creates things. But we also need him next month, the month after that, and next year."
On the day that his British record Liverpool transfer went through, the 25-year-old flew out to join up with the Swedish national team and therefore is yet to meet his new Reds teammates.
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However, there will be no rush to force him back into action for his new club. Liverpool, like Sweden, will take a safety-first approach — not least because Hugo Ekitike has started so well since his own $106 million (£79 million) move.
"When you play for the best teams, you inevitably expect to be competing with the best players," Ekitike said while on international duty with France.
"Isak is a player I used to watch, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure. It's going to be tough competition, but I'm going to work hard to be good and perform well so that it's just the coach's problem."
Liverpool.com says: Isak will be slowly integrated into the Reds' team and there is no immediate rush. His first few appearances are likely to be off the bench rather than from the off.
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