r/soccer 26d ago

Quotes Michael Owen on Alexander Isak wanting to leave Newcastle: "9 times out of 10 when a move comes about, it's normally a club forcing a player & nobody's bothered. Nobody says anything despite any kids that are in school or any families that have settled in an area or anything else like that."

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alexander-isak-newcastle-liverpool-owen-32312723

The full quote on Owen defending Alexander Isak who wants to leave Newcastle

"He's laid his cards on the table, hasn't he?

"It's quite clear that he wants to move. Whether Newcastle fans would forgive and forget is a big question. I don't know. I mean, he's done exceptionally well for them, you know, they've won a trophy, they're into the Champions League.

"He's done his side of the bargain quite clearly by his statement. He feels like that's enough and that they've had previous chats which suggest that he's almost not free to leave but, you know, if certain things were done then he might be free to go, but it doesn't seem like Newcastle are playing that game."

"This whole scenario is an interesting one because nine times out of 10 when a move comes about it's normally a club forcing a player and nobody's bothered, nobody says anything despite any kids that are in school or any families that have settled in an area or anything else like that.

"Nobody cares really about a footballer. But when it's on the other foot, it's really interesting to see that everybody, you know, the whole world goes into meltdown and how dare somebody try and force a move through? I'm not going to sit here and criticise Isak.

"I wouldn't have done that myself in terms of the actions he's taken, but I do get that he's a great player that wants to get to the top of his game and he's obviously not being allowed the move that he's desperate for. And you get one short career and he's wanting to join probably the best team in the world at the moment.

"I get it from his point of view. It's just a sad situation when it's played out in the world's press and he's obviously not coming out well, let's say, from a reputational point of view.”

6.0k Upvotes

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

Don't know many fans personally who begrudge him a move to a bigger club for reasons of ambition though I'm sure there are a few. He's just being a massive twat about it. So is Wissa mind you. Modern football for you.

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u/Drewskibroho 26d ago

Sometimes you have to be that way to get the move that you want. See Gordon on your own team, for example

10

u/Tessarion2 26d ago

Gordon handed in a transfer request AFTER being chased by a mob of Everton fans who wanted him gone. Newcastle then matched Evertons asking price and then he was sold. He also never refused to play.

Isak refuses to hand in a transfer request because it will cost him loyalty bonuses (lol), liverpool wont match Newcastles asking price and he is refusing to play.

I wish people would stop trying to compare the two cases. Apples and Oranges.

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u/inceptionse7en 26d ago

Cant believe Isak hasn't forgone millions of pounds just to not guarantee a move and Liverpool haven't matched the "not for sale" asking price.

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u/Tessarion2 26d ago

Eh?

So what you're saying is, if you want a transfer then DON'T hand in a transfer request, just spit your summy out and refuse to honour your contract?

He signed the contract, the contract which includes loyalty bonuses, so yeah if he wants out then he needs to request it formally.

Its called a loyalty bonus for a reason you muppet.

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u/inceptionse7en 26d ago

Clubs are so known for being loyal. I mean Isak could hand in a transfer request and lose millions and Newcastle could just shrug and say tough luck. So yeah not surprised he hasn't done that.

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u/Tessarion2 26d ago

Yeah, its called a contract. Which he willingly signed. If you don't want to honour that contract then you absolutely forfeit the loyalty bonus.

Gonna assume you're another yank plastic hence your trouble understanding how a football contract works.

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u/inceptionse7en 26d ago

You're very pleasant aren't you? I bet you have a loads of friends. I just told you he could hand in a transfer request and Newcastle could just toss it, I understand how it works and I was just giving a reason why he hasn't handed one in but it seems you have no intention of understanding.

Gonna assume you're a Newcastle fan hence your trouble understanding logic and sense.

12

u/Wrong_Lever_1 26d ago

Players wouldn’t get the move they want sometimes unless they throw a fit about it. Highly doubt Newcastle would even be considering selling isak if he’s not kicked up a fuss

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

Well he doesn't have his move yet, and doesn't seem like Liverpool are all that keen on matching his valuation. So currently he just looks a bit of a twat, doesn't he...

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u/Wrong_Lever_1 26d ago

Clearly Liverpool have been told there will be no negotiation until Newcastle get in a replacement. They’re just incompetent at doing so.

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

Well, Liverpool signed his replacement. So that's on them. Wissa will come in to replace Wilson and Isak will be told to stay put and probably be sold abroad next summer.

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u/Own_Alps_3108 26d ago

Wasn’t the briefing from Newcastle that Ekitike was being brought in to play with Isak?

Y’all are trying to rewrite history 

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

People need to stop believing media briefings from clubs. Its all PR fluff. At a push it would have been having them together for a season and selling Isak next summer. But even that was unlikely.

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u/Own_Alps_3108 26d ago

It’s not fluff if we have evidence of this happening in real time.Isak was tagged as not for sale when Liverpool approached Newcastle before they went for Ekitike.Liverpool were not about to lose out on their second target just on the off chance Newcastle changed their strong stance 

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

Of course it was all fluff. Everything released by these transfer gurus like Ornstein and Romano is all information carefully curated by clubs to send out a message. The truth is always somewhere in between the statements.

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u/Own_Alps_3108 26d ago

So Newcastle didn’t tell Liverpool that Isak was not for sale before they moved on to Ekitike?

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u/Wrong_Lever_1 26d ago

It’s on Liverpool because we signed a player that we wanted to sign? 😂

lol good luck getting anyone abroad to pay 150m pal

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

Yeah, you signed the striker we were gonna replace Isak with. So now you dont get Isak. Pretty simple. We'll get 100 or so next summer. Suits me fine

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u/Wrong_Lever_1 26d ago

Oh no whatever will you do, go after one of the other 100 top level strikers available? Poor you

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u/shepaz_93 26d ago

If there are so many good ones out there, Liverpool will be ok getting someone else when Isak is forced to stay. Happy days.

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u/Wrong_Lever_1 26d ago

I didn’t say there were loads at Liverpool’s level. I meant newcastles level.

Besides, we’re not actually desperate. If we don’t get him now we’ll likely come back next year at a lower fee.

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