Alexander Isak’s international manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has underscored his player’s professionalism amid the striker’s turbulent move from Newcastle to Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window.
The Sweden star completed the saga of the summer with confirmation of his £125million move to the Premier League champions on Monday, after an attritional stand-off with his former club.
Isak previously accused the club of ‘breaking promises’ in an incendiary statement on social media, hinting that Newcastle were unwilling to let him make the long-awaited move to Merseyside.
In the absence of securing a suitable attacking replacement, the Magpies were keen to keep hold of their star – but Isak refused to play for the club as the tumult between the two parties rolled on.
The 25-year-old did not feature in the squad for any of Eddie Howe’s side’s first three outings ahead of the international break, and a brief 37-word statement confirming his departure appeared to prove there is no love lost between Isak and his former club.
But ahead of Isak’s arrival to join up with his national team for their World Cup qualifying ties against Slovenia and Kosovo, Tomasson was keen to stress that his star was clear-eyed after his chaotic move.
Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has staunchly defended his star striker Alexander Isak
The newly minted Liverpool player has now joined up with the international team amid the completion of his transfer saga
Isak pictured arriving at a hotel in Stockholm in the early hours of the morning for Sweden duty
‘I spoke with Alex yesterday, I spoke with Alex today as well,’ Tomasson said in his pre-camp press conference, after referencing that although – at the time – the deal was not done, ‘every person in the whole world has read all the headlines over the last weeks, and even today.’
‘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.’
When asked how Isak was doing and when he was joining up with his Sweden team-mates, he continued: ‘He’s a great lad. I’ve spoken about his character many times. I think the most important thing is that he wants this team, he wants it badly, he wants to perform well, so that we qualify for the World Cup.
‘He’s in a good mental place. So regarding what we spoke about, stays with me and Alex, but that’s normal, isn’t it.’
‘More or less all over Europe, it’s a strange day,’ Tomasson added, acknowledging that Isak was not alone in turning up later to camp.
Isak’s transfer saga dominated the summer, particularly after he was absent from their pre-season tour of Asia and trained alone.
Eddie Howe always maintained that reintegration was possible, but as they lined up the signings of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, Newcastle finally felt comfortable letting him of their main source of goals.
Tomasson stressed that Isak was in a ‘great place’ mentally after their numerous discussions
The 25-year-old may have become a hero for Newcastle after winning the Carabao Cup but his exit has been attritional
Liverpool again broke the British transfer record with their £125million capture of the striker
Isak arrived on Merseyside late on Monday morning and completed his medical in two parts, then posed for pictures at the AXA Training Centre before departing in mid-afternoon and boarding a 6.30pm flight to Stockholm to join up with his international team-mates.
He put pen to paper on a six-year deal which trumps the previous British transfer record that Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo two years ago.
Liverpool have broken the record twice this summer, also eclipsing Liverpool’s record signing of £116m for Florian Wirtz two months ago.
Liverpool’s new number nine said: ‘It’s been a long journey to get here. But I’m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It’s something I’m proud of and I’m really looking forward to it.
‘I think I have a lot to give, I think I have a lot to improve. I’m a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals but much more than that as well. I want to win everything.’
Newcastle wasted little time reinvesting the Isak money, having already smashed their own transfer record to sign Stuttgart striker Woltemade for up to £69m at the tail end of last week.
Tomasson’s backing of Isak comes ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Slovenia
Newcastle secured their replacement for the player with the signing of Nick Woltemade
The 6ft 6in Germany international, nicknamed ‘Woltemessi’ by Manuel Neuer because of his surprising technical ability, scored 17 goals in 33 games for Stuttgart last season and finished as top scorer at the Under-21 European Championship.
The 23-year-old has signed a six-year contract at St James’ Park and is viewed as a long-term replacement in attack.
Then came a £55m deal for Wissa on deadline day, who had been pushing for a move after scoring 19 non-penalty goals for Brentford in the Premier League last season.
