20 hours ago
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Alexander Isak has been one of the main stories in soccer this summer, even without stepping onto the field, after successfully pushing through a transfer to Liverpool.
The Swedish forward went from being adored on Tyneside to criticized as a villain once he forced his way out of Newcastle to join the Premier League titleholders. His desire to leave was so strong that he skipped training sessions and the club's pre-season tour before later releasing a blunt public statement on social media, accusing Newcastle of breaking promises after rejecting Liverpool's opening bid.
Although Newcastle resisted for much of the window, they eventually gave in on deadline day, selling Isak for a record-setting British fee of $169 million (£125M). Now, as he prepares for a potential Liverpool debut against Burnley this Sunday, here's a look at what has unfolded since his controversial move.
Doctor talks
Isak barely had time to sign his contract before flying off to join Sweden's national team for World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo. Since he had been sidelined at Newcastle at the start of the season, he was short on match sharpness, which led to conversations between Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and Liverpool boss Arne Slot, along with both clubs' medical staff.
Before the international fixtures, Tomasson explained: "We will not do any stupid things with him. He has not had a pre-season with lots of training and matches. He cannot play 90 minutes. We have a plan.
"We always have very good communication with the clubs. I have spoken to their manager. Our doctor has spoken to their doctor. Our physio Ben [Rosen] has spoken to their physio.
"I am happy that the guy is here. It doesn't matter where the players play as long as they play and that they are happy, and he is extremely happy."
As a result, Isak stayed on the bench against Slovenia and later played just the final 18 minutes of Sweden's 2–0 defeat to Kosovo, fueling speculation Liverpool had placed restrictions on his minutes.
Newcastle WhatsApp messages
Even though many Newcastle supporters felt betrayed, his former team-mates say there's no bad blood. Speaking about Isak's farewell in the squad's WhatsApp chat, defender Dan Burn said: "He put a message in the chat just saying that he was leaving, and thanks for the memories, all that sort of stuff, and the lads replied.
"Yeah, of course it was all positive. I think Alex is getting what he wants, and now we've just got to focus and do what we can with the players that we've got."
Newcastle rift denied
Reports suggested there might have been a split in Newcastle's locker room over Isak's exit, with some players backing him while others felt disappointed. Emil Krafth has denied those rumors, insisting there was no drama inside the Sweden camp either. Speaking to Sportbladet, he said: "I wish him all the best in the future. For me, Alex is not just a footballer, but a close friend too.
"The media wrote that the locker room would be divided. That is certainly not true. Football players understand football players, and we can only wish him the best of luck. As Anthony [Elanga] said, it has been very chill."
Krafth further rejected talk of unrest, adding: "No one has said or done anything. It is just taken out of thin air. You understand his and the club's situation. Of course, they would have wanted to keep him; he is an incredibly good football player."
Liverpool team-mate welcomes him
Liverpool's other attacking summer arrival, Hugo Ekitike, has openly welcomed Isak's move to Anfield, even though it could mean more competition for his own spot. Ekitike has impressed early in his Liverpool career, but could lose his place once Isak settles in.
Despite that, the 23-year-old says he's excited by the challenge. He said this week: "It's fun. When you play for the best teams, you expect to be competing with the best players.
"Isak is a player I've watched too, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure. It's going to be tough competition, but I'm going to focus on performing well so that it's a problem for the manager."
Isak responds
Fully aware of the criticism surrounding his transfer, Isak has insisted that "not everyone has the whole picture" about how events unfolded.
He said: "I can't control everything that is said or written, but I'm glad I became a Liverpool player. That's what I wanted, and I'm happy about that. There is a lot to discuss, and it can be discussed for a long time. It has been educational, and I'm happy with the final result. I'm happy and proud to be a Liverpool player."
Adding: "I don't want to go into details or talk about that situation too much. It is a closed chapter, but I have never had any problems. It's been a fairly new situation for me, but you always learn and develop mentally off the pitch too."
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