Former Plymouth Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney offered a hard-hitting assessment of the saga around Alexander Isak. Reports say the Newcastle forward is demanding a transfer and refusing to take part in training. Rooney calls such a step a blow to the team’s trust and warns: the road back to the pitch in such cases becomes twice as long. At the same time, the expert points to professional ethics: the Swede still has three years left on his contract and a weekly wage of over one hundred thousand pounds — that is responsibility to the club and supporters, not a license to lay down conditions.
Trust in the Dressing Room Is the Key Asset
Question. How serious is it for the team when a leader refuses to train?
Rooney. “Training is the currency of trust. If you step out of the process, teammates and the coaching staff remember it. A return to the starting XI after a holdout isn’t about technique; it’s about reputation. You cut off your own way back.”
Should Liverpool Take the Risk?
Question. Should a buying club, in particular Liverpool, proceed with such a transfer?
Rooney. “You need to weigh it up carefully. If a player is forcing a move, will he remain reliable at a critical moment in a new place? You’re buying not only his goals but his character. The transfer market remembers such stories longer than the goals scored.”
A Personal Example
Question. Have you ever asked to leave?
Rooney. “Yes, there were moments when I wanted to change clubs. But I never sabotaged training and never refused to play. If you’re a professional, you do your job as long as your contract is in force.”
Contract and Professional Ethics
Question. Do contractual obligations decide everything here?
Rooney. “A contract is a two-way agreement. Three years ahead and a six-figure weekly salary — that’s not only rights but obligations. Supporters have the right to expect commitment, and the team expects discipline. Otherwise sporting fairness in the dressing room collapses.”
How to Break the Deadlock
Question. What should Newcastle and Isak do?
Rooney. “First — get back to work mode. Talk with the board and the coach, set clear rules, apply disciplinary measures if needed — but without public ultimatums. If a move is inevitable, it should be done civilly. If you stay, win back trust with deeds: train, play, score.”
Rooney’s takeaway is simple and unsparing: today’s decision to refuse to work can turn into tomorrow’s distrust on any new stage. In football, reputation scores no less than a striker.
