If there were any bridges left to burn for Alexander Isak at Newcastle, his agent has poured more petrol on the inferno he’s left behind.
Following the tumultuous end to his client’s protracted divorce in the summer transfer saga, which concluded with a £125 million deadline day switch to Liverpool, Vlado Lemic—the orchestrator behind the scenes for Isak—delivered a 22-word farewell to the Magpies.
‘It’s nice when you have someone to be with, but it is even nicer when you know who you’ll never be with again,’ Lemic declared in a statement to talkSPORT.
On the same day Isak was seen beaming during training with Sweden on international duty—seemingly relieved of a significant burden—Lemic’s remark serves as a painful reminder for irate Newcastle supporters.
Isak was spotted during the international practice session, smiling as he finally rejoined team activities after going on strike at Newcastle to secure his desired transfer.
Building his fitness levels back up on the outskirts of Stockholm, Isak headed to his native country after finalizing his medical in Merseyside.
Alexander Isak looked in extremely high spirits as he was pictured in Sweden training having secured his move to Liverpool
Isak’s representative, Vlado Lemic (above), showed little reluctance to inflame the situation left behind, further agitating Newcastle fans, with one responding to his Liverpool announcement by depicting him as a rat.
Isak’s agent gave a statement to talkSPORT making a dig at Isak’s old club Newcastle
Isak himself later released a statement of his own, taking the opposite approach to his representative and thanking his old side.
He wrote: ‘I want to express my gratitude to my teammates, the staff, and above all, the city of Newcastle and all the amazing supporters for the three unforgettable years we shared together.
‘Together, we have written history and brought the club to the place where it truly belongs. It has been an honour to be part of the journey from reaching the Champions League to winning the first trophy in over 70 years.
‘Forever grateful. Thank you, Newcastle.’
Lemic’s incendiary words also followed Newcastle’s own blunt statement about the departure as the player who was until recent months worshipped as a hero on Tyneside.
It read: ‘Newcastle United can announce the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a significant British record transfer fee.
‘The Sweden international joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022 and made 109 appearances in all competitions.’
The 37-word message clearly conveyed the ill-feeling borne out of the summer of discontent and Lemic’s reply shows there are still incredibly intense emotions on both sides.
Isak escaped the furore about his move at 1am on Monday to jet back to Sweden.
The striker escaped the furore around his transfer at 1am on Monday to join up with international team-mates outside of Stockholm
After Newcastle released their statement, there were a huge number of replies from angry fans and one even mocked up a picture of the striker as a rat.
‘A statement of few words for a man of few morals,’ wrote one major fan account on X.
‘This is one of the saltiest statements I’ve ever read. Fantastic stuff Newcastle! Petty begets petty,’ one user said.
‘You played this so graciously!! Good riddance to him – onwards!’ another said.
One commented: ‘Three lines, fair play man, he doesn’t deserve anything else.’
Despite Isak going on strike and releasing a statement about how trust had been broken and he wanted to leave, he was described by national team boss Jon Dahl Tomasson as a ‘great lad’.
‘Alex is extremely professional, and he has a great mentality. He is very stable, and in control.
‘We are not afraid of that (the transfer impacting his performance). Definitely not.’
The striker has been training alone all summer while on strike but was back in team action
Isak moved to Liverpool in a massive deal that has dragged on all through the summer
Unsurprisingly, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer had a different view about how the messy British transfer record came about.
He told Betfair: ‘I didn’t like how it got to the end. I don’t think it’s ever right that a player should go on strike and refuse to play for a club whilst you’re being paid and have a contract.
‘I understand it from the other way around, when a club wants to get rid of you they do, but they’re still paying your wages. When you sign a contract, you’re obliged to fulfil it.
‘Alexander Isak is a good player, going to a great football club who will no doubt challenge for all the big trophies.
‘But, as I said, I don’t like how it happened. He’ll have his reasons, I’m sure.
The new Liverpool forward said it was a ‘relief’ to finally get his move to the Reds
‘We can thank him for what he did at Newcastle, but it’s been a messy situation all summer.
‘I don’t think it’s done anyone any good, it’s been a really bad look for football and for the fans because they’re the paying public, the ones that make this great game of ours.
‘It’s not a good look at all when you’re being paid by a club and refuse to play. Ultimately, he got his move to Liverpool, that’s what he wanted.’
