Newcastle dressing room breaks squad silence with statement on Alexander Isak

The summer’s longest-running transfer drama has finally reached its conclusion, but the parting of ways between Alexander Isak and Newcastle United is anything but amicable.

In a move that shattered the British transfer record, Liverpool secured the Swedish striker for a staggering £130 million on deadline day, finally landing one of their top targets to lead their attack under manager Arne Slot.

For the Reds and their fans, it’s a reason for pure celebration, adding a world-class talent to a team already enjoying a perfect start to the season and looking poised to defend their Premier League title.

For everyone connected with Newcastle United, however, the emotions are far more complex and largely negative.

Isak’s departure comes after a prolonged and very public campaign to force the move, which included the player effectively going on strike.

This decision to refuse to play for the club has deeply angered a fanbase that once idolized him, with many feeling he has permanently tarnished his own legacy on Tyneside.

The sense of betrayal is palpable, turning what should have been a proud moment for the club—receiving a record fee—into a bitter and divisive episode.

This division isn’t just limited to the stands; it has reportedly seeped into the Newcastle dressing room itself. According to reports, the ongoing saga created a real rift among the players.

The situation became so tense that one teammate allegedly had to be physically calmed down by another, seemingly out of sheer frustration with Isak’s conduct and the disruption it caused.

It appears the squad was split in its opinion. Some players understood Isak’s ambition to take a step up in his career and join a title-chasing side, while others could not forgive the manner in which he chose to pursue it, viewing his strike as a profound lack of respect for the club and his teammates.

This internal conflict is reflected in the starkly different reactions from players on social media. Dutch defender Sven Botman, who clearly shared a close personal bond with Isak, posted a warm and emotional farewell.

His message, which included a small grammatical error that made it feel genuine and off-the-cuff, read: “What started off as teammates growed [sic] in one of my rare best friendships. No more words needed brother, all the best in your next chapter.”

This heartfelt sentiment stands in sharp contrast to the silence from others. Club captain Bruno Guimarães, who is usually very active online, has been conspicuously quiet on Isak’s exit.

Instead of a farewell post, he used his platform to enthusiastically welcome new signing Yoane Wissa from Brentford, a move that speaks volumes without saying a word.

The club itself issued a notably brief and cold official statement—just 37 words long—to confirm the record-breaking sale, a clear indication of the strained relationship between the player and the hierarchy.

The final, intriguing chapter of this story is already scheduled. Newcastle is set to visit Anfield on January 31, 2026, for the return fixture after Liverpool’s dramatic stoppage-time victory last week.

That match promises to be an emotionally charged occasion, with Alexander Isak likely to line up against his former teammates for the first time.

It will be a fascinating test of professionalism and passion, marking the next step in a saga that, for Newcastle, is about more than just losing a star player—it’s about how his departure fractured the unity of the club.