Harry Kane attempted to leave Tottenham Hotspur at the start of pre-season but was eventually recalled by the club, staying for another year before moving to Bayern Munich.
Luis Suárez experienced the same situation at Liverpool. Such scenarios have happened before, and they could happen again in the future.
This is precisely where Isak finds himself. He has chosen a path full of uncertainty, losing the respect and affection of passionate fans, and annoying his manager and teammates.
Yet the road to redemption is not out of reach. He just must not be too stubborn and narrow-minded to see the hope ahead.
No one expects him to stay at Newcastle forever, but next summer he will be 26, and by then his options will be far more than just Liverpool.
Newcastle are willing to offer him a significant pay rise and a new contract with a release clause. If he still wants to leave, he will not be forced to stay in 12 months' time.
He will have greater control over his own future, and Newcastle United will be able to sell him at a reasonable price, allowing them to reinvest in the team. He can do right by himself and right by the club.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona both hope to sign a world-class striker next year. Both teams have hopes of winning trophies in Europe and can meet salary demands of over £300,000 a week. Who can guarantee that Real
Madrid won’t also keep an eye on him? The same goes for Paris Saint-Germain.
If he genuinely wants to go to Anfield, Liverpool will continue to maintain their interest. An amicable agreement will be reached between the two parties, with the price dictated by the release clause.
Newcastle United hope he stays for one more year. That is their only request. It will give them time to find a replacement; it will give them time to prove they can meet his ambitions. But if he still wants to leave in 2026, they won’t stand in his way.
Isak only needs to apologize, stop moping, admit he made a mistake, and do the things that made him what he is today—just as he did when wearing the Newcastle shirt.
If he scores goals and performs well, Newcastle fans will forgive him. He can be loved again on Tyneside, but he needs to stop his misbehavior. The sooner he does this, the faster and easier the healing process will be.
Alternatively, he could keep sulking and being agitated to get what he wants right now. This would damage his reputation, and he will forever be viewed differently—not just by Newcastle fans, but by the wider football world.
He might still force a move. He could stick to that, with his agent craving a big payday, but he will never be the same again. No matter how good he is, his name will forever be tarnished.
This player has broken hearts and let down a manager who only supported him. Wherever Isak ends up, he will be remembered for this. And on Tyneside, he will forever be remembered as a villain, not a hero. No one can tell him what to do; fans can only hope he does the right thing.
