NEWCASTLE stars have started to break cover and respond to Alexander Isak’s £130million move to Liverpool.
The Premier League champions finally signed the wantaway Swede to bring an end to the summer’s most bitter transfer saga.
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Newcastle put out a blunt 37-word statement to confirm the deal on deadline day – and now players are beginning to speak out.
Forward Anthony Gordon posted: “Regardless of the situation & what’s gone on. It’s been a pleasure to play with you.
“One of the best chemistries I’ve had on the pitch and more importantly a great person and teammate.
“I wish you nothing but the best brother.”
Dutch centre-back Sven Botman wrote: “What started off as teammates growed in one of my rate best friendships.
“No more words needed brother, all the best in your next chapter.”
Isak is believed to have told Newcastle at the end of the season that he wanted to leave – leading to his strike throughout the summer.
And it is said to have divided the dressing room – with some sympathetic to his desire to leave – with others feeling betrayed.
Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline
- JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge
- FEBRUARY: £150million record fee mooted
- MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk
- APRIL: Eddie Howe hails Isak as “very professional.”
- MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold
- Last match in Newcastle shirt
- JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up
- JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp
- Left out of Celtic friendly
- Liverpool hijack Toon’s Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry
- Doesn’t travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury
- AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle
- Liverpool have £110m bid rejected
- Isak stops training and goes on strike
- Moves out of his apartment
- Releases angry statement blasting ‘trust has been lost’
- Newcastle respond by insisting he won’t be sold unless it benefits club
- Misses Newcastle’s first three games of season, including 3-2 defeat to Liverpool
- Newcastle relent and will accept £130m with 24 hours of window left
- Liverpool have £130m bid accepted on Aug 31
- SEPTEMBER: Isak travels to Liverpool for medical on deadline day morning
- Liverpool announce British record signing on deadline day at 9.30pm – two-and-a-half hours after transfer window closes
- Takes No9 shirt at Anfield
- Newcastle release blunt 37-word statement confirming exit
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Liverpool saw their initial £110m bid rejected in August before striking a deal worth £125m plus £5m in add ons on deadline day marking a British-record deal.
Isak, 25, said after signing: “It’s a mixture of what the club is building.
“But what they’re building on top of what the club already is. The history of the club.
“Me getting the chance to be a part of this, I want to create history. I want to win trophies. That’s ultimately the biggest motivation for me.
“And I feel like this is the perfect place for me to grow even further and to take my game to the next level and help the team as well.
“I feel like this is the next step for me in my career. I’m super-happy that I’ve been given this chance and I’m very motivated to do something well with it.”
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