How PIF really feel about Alexander Isak’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool
Alexander Isak's transfer to Liverpool caused a lot of friction this summer.
Liverpool and Newcastle had inter-club tension over the way that Arne Slot's side went about the deal.
Newcastle supporters were furious with Liverpool and with Isak himself for the way that he forced the transfer to happen.
Isak made his desire to join Liverpool clear, refusing to play for the Magpies and releasing a statement alleging broken promises.
How Newcastle's owners feel about Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool
Some Newcastle insiders believe that the new Liverpool man downed tools as early as April and did not want the club to qualify for the Champions League.
It has now been revealed how the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) feels about the record-setting transfer.
The Daily Mail's Craig Hope reported on 1 September that the PIF hoped that they could turn Isak's mind around, but once it became clear that they could not, they accepted an exit.
In a column on the transfer, he said: “What have Newcastle’s Saudi Arabian owners made of all of this?
"Public Investment Fund governor and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan wanted to keep Isak entering the summer. He was his favourite player.
"But the fund, who have 30 employees working on the Newcastle portfolio, are also pragmatists and businesspeople, Al-Rumayyan had hoped that last Monday’s visit to Isak’s house would bring a positive resolution but, when it did not, the club-record move for Woltemade was sanctioned.
"Isak was on his way.”
Liverpool were always going to get Alexander Isak
There is a hierarchy in football, and Isak was always going to want to move to the Premier League champions.
If it did not come this summer, it would have in the winter window or next summer, because Liverpool are a much bigger club than Howe's side.
The L4 outfit were forced to accept that Trent Alexander-Arnold would move to Real Madrid, who are undoubtedly the biggest club in the world for a new challenge and to elevate his legacy.
Isak chose to do the same thing, and it should not be held against him that he wanted to better his career, win more trophies and increase his standing in the global game.
The way he went about it was messy, but ultimately, it got him his dream move, something which Marc Guehi, who acted in the right way, cannot say at this point.
So, Isak was right to force his way out, because otherwise, with three years left on his contract at St James' Park, there is no way his exit would have been allowed.
Sign up for the Liverpool News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Liverpool news sent straight to your phone.