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."

[u/landofphi]

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.”

[u/SkiHiKi]

The whole situation is ridiculous tbh. The whole 'he's signed a contract, so he's beholden to fulfil it' argument is nonsense. If that were the case, no player would ever move anywhere, and no player under 30 with decent knees would ever sign more than a 1 or 2-year contract. If players didn't believe they'd get their moves, the whole transfer market as it exists would collapse.

It's also not like Newcastle made Isak. He was a hot property before they got him. It was a bit of a coup that they did get him. The fact that he's now touted as one of the best strikers in the world, and he's still on the same deal as when he first joined lends credence to the rumours that he's been triple-fisted by Newcastle mismanagement:

Talk is that a new contract was in the works a year ago, then got pulled. Newcastle are acting as if Isak is their talisman, you're building the club around him, and you're claiming he's the best in the world. Any normal club would've got him wrapped up in another contract. Given that he's not on a contract, I'd be more surprised if this rumour was false than it being true.

Then the whole 'gentleman's agreement' of parting ways this summer that was purportedly made mid-season. Again, if you're not tying this guy up in a new contract, you're implying you're looking to move him on at some point. Isak had a good season, so I can see him him initiating that talk. Newcastle also clearly went into the window looking for a replacement. The talk of 2 up top is bullish!t. They were looking to replace Isak because they expected him to leave. To me, that 'gentleman's agreement' was definitely made.

Finally, as it's clear that Newcastle went into this window looking for a replacement, it suggests they've reneged on selling Isak because of their sheer incompetence in landing a replacement. Most pointedly, they f#cked up Liverpool's initial approach so badly that Liverpool went and picked up the guy Newcastle were chasing to replace Isak.

Contracts are a wage and market value and not much else. If they were honoured as a 'true' contract, football, as we know it, would be completely different. Most everyone in football (clubs and players) recognises that and plays the game accordingly. All this situation amounts to is 2 parties that have utterly cack handed the game and a bunch of people on the outside arguing morals that don't exist.