Alexander Isak’s standoff with Newcastle threatened to descend into outright civil war on Tuesday night as the Sweden striker accused his club of breaking promises and betraying his trust. In an incendiary Instagram message he claimed their relationship “could not continue”.
Isak has been endeavouring to force a move to Liverpool all summer but, so far, at least Newcastle have proved resistant, rejecting one £110m bid as they struggle to find replacements.
The striker was due to have attended the Professional Footballers’ Association players’ player of the year awards in Manchester on Tuesday having been nominated for the top prize but he sent his apologies via his explosive social media post.
Shortly after Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won the main award for a third time, Isak’s words sent shockwaves through the corridors of power at St James’ Park. “When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue,” he posted after expressing pride at being voted on to the PFA Premier League team of the 2024-25 season.
Isak then thanked his teammates and “everyone at Newcastle” for supporting him along the way before increasing the pressure on the club’s Saudi Arabian owners to sanction his longed-for sale to Anfield.
“I’m not at the ceremony tonight,” he posted. “With everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there.
“I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading.
“When promises are broken and trust is lost the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now – and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
Isak was understood to be furious when what he believed to be a promised pay rise was postponed last summer. At the time he had four years remaining on his contract worth £140,000 a week. His camp claim that last spring he made it clear to Newcastle’s manager and the club that he wanted to leave this summer, but Howe and the board interpret things very differently.
This summer Isak skipped the club’s pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea citing a thigh injury, undetectable on scans. He then spent a week training alone at his former club Real Sociedad, an excursion Howe learned about only through the media.
More recently Isak has been training alone at Newcastle after other players have departed and he was excluded from a club social barbecue after refusing Howe’s overtures to reintegrate.
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Newcastle’s manager has said that Isak is “in control” of the situation. The board were preparing to fine the striker, who is understood to have rejected offers of a much-enhanced contract extension, the maximum permissible two weeks’ wages after he missed the club’s opening game of the season last Saturday, a goalless draw at Aston Villa.
Later on Tuesday evening, Newcastle released a statement: “We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.
“We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired.
“We do not foresee those conditions being met.
“This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates.”
