Alexander Isak has been told by Wayne Rooney that Newcastle's players "wouldn't want him back" after he's pulled out all the stops to try and force his exit and secure a move to Liverpool.
The Swede has spent much of the summer trying to get himself out of St James' Park but the Magpies have still held firm, rejecting a bid worth £110million from the Reds. Isak is frustrated and has cited "broken promises" from those on Tyneside.
He thought he'd be allowed to leave if a club of Liverpool's standing came in, but Newcastle have refused to entertain his exit. All while Isak has claimed he will not play for the club again and remains absent from training.
His latest major stunt came on Tuesday night when he put out a statement, criticising the club. Newcastle began their season without Isak as they drew 0-0 at Aston Villa with Anthony Gordon having to lead the line with the Swede nowhere to be seen.
The Magpies have responded to Isak's fiery statement and claimed he "remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his teammates" but Rooney doesn't believe the current players could willingly put his actions behind them.
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He said on his new podcast: "For me, I don't think there's any way back for Isak at Newcastle. I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, I don't think I could accept them back. In terms of Isak's team-mates I wouldn't want him back.
"You can ask to leave a football club - that happens, or the club tell you you're leaving - but you have to be professional. You've got friends in there who you play with, you have fans who are paying a lot of money to support and you can't just walk out on it. And if they're going to do it once, they'll do it again."
Isak has spent the last three years at Newcastle, helping them become a Champions League outfit, all the while seeing his own stock grow. The Swede is now viewed among the best strikers in the world and helped the Magpies claim a first trophy in 70 years last term.
They have made it clear they don't want to lose him. Their desire to keep him has also been furthered by the difficulties they've experienced in getting players through the door. They moved for Benjamin Sesko, but were beaten by Manchester United, and they continue to fail in their pursuit of Yoane Wissa from Brentford.
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