Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes and vice-captain Dan Burn say the players can only ‘control what we can control’ after breaking the club’s silence on the Alexander Isak situation, admitting the striker is going through a ‘rough moment’.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed on Thursday that Isak has told the hierarchy he wants to leave this summer, with Liverpool readying a British record offer.
Newcastle landed here in Singapore on Friday morning without their star player, who is said to be nursing a thigh injury at home on Tyneside.
However, there is a strong chance the Swede has kicked his last ball in black and white, and we understand several team-mates expect Isak to go, if Liverpool pay the £150million that Newcastle will demand.
In the meantime, Mail Sport spoke to Guimaraes and Burn at the team’s Pan Pacific hotel, and Burn was asked if he could understand Isak’s desire to further his career elsewhere.
‘Listen, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion,’ said the England defender. ‘But I think we can just control what we can control. That’s a question for Alex to answer. He’s obviously a big player for us, but we do have a lot of quality in the squad as well. Bringing Anthony (Elanga) in as well, which I think was a great signing.’
Newcastle’s stars have broken their silence after Alexander Isak told the club he wants to leave
Dan Burn insists he and his team-mates must focus on what they can control rather than Isak
Bruno Guimaraes says Isak has ‘been through some rough things’ and the club ‘has control’
Isak has not travelled to Singapore with the squad amid his injury and Liverpool’s interest
Burn added: ‘Alex hasn’t trained with a thigh issue that’s been ongoing since he’s been back that first few days.’
Guimaraes said: ‘I’m really close to him (Isak). He’s a good guy. He’s been through some rough things at this moment. My focus is with the lads. Isak is something I cannot control. The club has control of it. I hope he’s going to be fit when we come back to Newcastle to prepare for the new season.
‘They told us he was there in Newcastle because of his injury. Of course he’s a top player for us and he’s going to be a miss on this trip. We need him ready as soon as possible.’
Meanwhile, both players spoke of their wish to see Newcastle add to the sole signing of Elanga.
‘We are still in the market and looking for new options,’ said Guimaraes. ‘But we’ve had success before and we can have success again. I’m more focussed on the players we have here. My job for the club is to try to keep the lads motivated.
‘We have to be calm. We have to be patient. We know the directors are working the markets. We have Elanga, who has surprised me a lot in training, unbelievable.’
The Brazilian added: ‘Since I signed for the club I’ve always had this ambition (to compete and see good players arrive). If I lose it, I’ll go back to Brazil and play there! I think the club has the same ambition as me.’
Burn said: ‘You always want to reinforce and bring in players. It’s nice to keep the squad fresh. But as I said, for us as a team, as a staff and players, it’s about controlling what we can control.’
