7 hours ago
22
Alexander Isak has "tarnished" his Newcastle legacy by going on strike to force a move to Liverpool.
That's according to Newcastle club legend Nobby Solano. The Swedish striker secured his record-breaking British transfer of £125 million ($169 million) on deadline day, but not before refusing to join his teammates for preseason and missing out on Newcastle's first three games of the term.
Isak's contentious exit involved him criticizing the Premier League club for "broken promises" regarding his transfer and opting not to return to training following discussions at his residence. Newcastle swiftly filled the void left by Isak with Brentford's Yoane Wissa and Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade, as the Magpies aimed to quickly put the drama behind them.
Solano was far from pleased with Isak's conduct.
He expressed that Isak missed the opportunity to surpass Shearer as the club's all-time top scorer and did not honor the trust the supporters placed in him when he joined from Real Sociedad in 2022.
As quoted by Chronicle Live, he said: "Alex could have had it all - even Alan Shearer's crown as the club's record scorer!
"It's not a good look for Alex this and when things settle down, he will realize why Newcastle's faithful fans feel insulted by his actions, and that's what refusing to play is, insulting to the paying Geordie public.
"He was welcomed with open arms to the city like I was, and many others, so I can see why fans are disappointed.
"At 25 and with three years left on his deal, I think he could have got close to that because Newcastle would have gave him a job for life.
"The No. 9 shirt was vacant and would have been his to take at Newcastle. Alex has looked after himself really and not the club or the fans.
"He's made his own decision and he has looked at the financial side of it and his future when he stops playing. But he has tarnished his football legacy at Newcastle, make no doubt about that."
Isak - who netted 23 goals in the Premier League last season - also faced criticism from another Toon icon recently as Shearer concurred with Solano's view that his actions were a "bad look" for the beautiful game.
"I didn't like how it got to the end," he said. "I don't think it's ever right that a player should go on strike and refuse to play for a club whilst you're being paid and have a contract.
"I don't think it's done anyone any good. It's been a really bad look for football and for the fans because they're the paying public, the ones that make this great game of ours."
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