Alexander Isak remains a Newcastle United player, for now. The Swede, whose 23-Goal Premier League season earned Newcastle United a Champions League spot wants out. Many remember his iconic "Get sent" celebration, and the team that wants to procure him so desperately bore the full brunt in the EFL Cup Final. It possibly explains why they believe a British record transfer is the price to pay. What they didn't envisage, is the drama that has ensued.
Isak and Newcastle traded Barbs in seperate social media posts on Tuesday after the player was recognised in the PFA Team of the Year. His Instagram story was short and succinct. He felt betrayed and trust was lost. Shortly after, his prospective future teammate Mohammed Salah, through no prior knowledge & unknowningly cast the light on Isak more. Asked if he felt his team was stronger than past season's, his answer was a swift No. If Isak needed any boost to know if his suitors would walk, he had his answer, there and then. Social media didn't bother to follow the remainder of the Egyptian's answer. It was all about theories after.
While Isak burned bridges, Newcastle mended them. Like two parties unhappy in marriage with only one seemingly amenable to fixing it. The club reiterated its family ethos and willingness to reintegrate the player, if he so wished. The Lanky forward has yet to hand in a transfer request in all of this. There are those who believe it is because he doesn't want to forfeit £20-25m in bonuses & wages. Is he truly desperate to leave? Is it a tactic to get Newcastle to shatter their wage structure?
His teammate, Anthony Gordon sympathized with Isak while on tour during pre-season. Gordon was heavily linked with Liverpool last summer, with Luis Diaz now sold, subject of interest from FC Barcelona. The Englishman, Liverpool born, admitted his head was turned by the links & it didn't get better as he was at the Euros. Liverpool ultimately didn't make the move, and Gordon had to reintegrate. His 24/25 was a drop off from 23/24. They did achieve European football, but his total output was 11 Goals & assists in the Premier League. The season before, he hit 11 goals in the league ALONE.
Can Newcastle really afford a season of drop offs from a player who has chosen to ostracize themselves? Goals care everything, but would the scars of the namecalling by some fans ever go away?
Men at Crossroads
It is the same boat Yoane Wissa & Ademola Lookman find themselves. Wissa erased every shade of Brentford from his social media pages, went on strike and even informed the club of his desire to leave. He skipped trainings, left pre-season camp and when he finally showed up, he met with the owner to reiterate his wish for an exit, three days after an opening weekend defeat. The Congolese scored 19 League goals last season. His absence was largely felt on opening weekend where the Bees were run ragged by Nottingham Forest. Wissa will Ultimately get his wish, with Brentford having opened talks with Newcastle again over a transfer. His exit will mean the Londoners losing 44 of their 66 goals from 24-25 plus their coach. Brentford fans are in the minority, but they would be fearing the worst for Keith Andrews.
Lookman finds himself in almost a similar boat as Wissa. The Nigerian didn't show up to pre-season, handed in a transfer request, in a bid to force a move to Internazionale. Inter have refused to meet Atalanta's €50m valuation for Serie A clubs, and the player has now had to return to Zingonia, the club's training base, tail between his legs. La Dea lost topscorer Mateo Retegui to Al Qadsiah. Lookman is the only player on their roster actively who breached 10 League goals. They value him highly. The 2024 African Player of the Year believes promises were broken. His CEO, Luca Percassi doesn't agree. It is fair valuation. If Lookman is selected by Ivan Juric against Pisa, and he scores, will all be forgiven?
Football fans are the peculiar bit in these three stories. Isak jerseys are been burnt on Tyneside. He was called a rat by young Geordies when he drove into training the day after the Instagram story statement. His decision has United a fanbase behind the club. Wissa has been dubbed petulant, childish and gullible. It is barely a month on from fans calling him a great servant of the Club. The switch up can be as swift as the speed of light. Lookman has gone from god to ingrate. From loving son to maligned stepchild. Fans owe their loyalty to the club, and understandably so. However, what happened to nuance?
Take for instance, Liverpool fans, who called Trent Alexander-Arnold a rat for pursuing career ambitions by going to Real Madrid, but are goading Newcastle fans with #FreeIsak. Isak, like Trent wants to fulfill his career ambition by going to Liverpool, yet he is labeled a rat, by a fanbase, who are now cheering #FreeWissa. Wissa, like the previous duo wants to take his next career step, and is now the petulant child, who has thrown his toys out of the pram. Atalanta fans want Rodrigo Muniz, and have canvassed for his signature yet, Lookman is the villain who wants to go to a bigger team.
Football's vicious cycle
The cycle is vicious and the hypocrisy, gobsmacking. However, fans must realize football is a business. It may mean more to fans and media, but it is transactional to agents, club Chiefs, players, association presidents, GMa and the whole nine. It is a short career, players have career goals that they have to check off, just like every normal human being. They cannot be lampooned for having ambition. The unique state of contractual obligations yet differ for this trio, but one tie binds them all; a verbal agreement to allow an exit if fair valuation is met. The technicality behind fair valuation allowed Sporting play around Viktor Gyokeres' transfer to Arsenal. Clubs no longer attach value to their words. The words mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. It is about what is signed on the dotted line.
In a big industry where profit is the game and executives fight for their jobs, it is a cutthroat operation. There are no handouts. Isak, Wissa & Lookman can feel betrayed, but they have been dealt a hand which would take a monumental comeback. Clubs are often advised to sell when profit is attainable, it is why the decisions of Newcastle, Brentford & Atalanta surprise. Sales of each would generate significant profit from what they were purchased for. For a sport that is in a state if Flux with its market, it is not a risk worth taking. The impact can always be managed, the club is eternal, the player, transient.
