Michael Owen defends Alexander Isak for ‘ambition’ to leave Newcastle

Michael Owen lamented the ‘sad’ inevitability regarding Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle. However, the former Ballon d’Or winner believed the Swedish marksman has every right to want a move away and squeeze as much out of his career as possible. Isak told Newcastle he wants to leave the club and is absent from their pre-season tourGetty “If any decent player becomes available, the big boys come and eventually they move,” Owen said on talkSPORT Breakfast. “It’s sad because you want competition in football. “But you put yourself in a player’s point of view. If you didn’t have ambition, then football would be nothing. You’ve got one short career trying to win as much as you can, trying to get to the best team. “That’s what drives everybody. People will say it’s money, it’s not. “Most footballers just want to be in the best teams, in the best competitions and winning trophies. “Unfortunately, this scenario will never, ever change.” Why does Isak want to leave Newcastle? Isak’s future was plunged into uncertainty last Thursday when he expressed a desire to explore his options away from Newcastle. He was left behind from the Magpies’ pre-season tour due to what the club claimed was a thigh injury, but it was just hours later the true reason for Isak’s absence from the touring squad was confirmed. Defending Premier League champions Liverpool are the leaders in the hunt for Isak, although Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have also been credited with a serious interest. Should either side table a bid, it will take serious money to bring Newcastle to the negotiating table after they slapped a £150million price tag on the Swedish international. talkSPORTOwen backed Isak to go and chase trophies at the best teams on the planet[/caption] Although Isak remains contracted to Newcastle until 2028, Magpies boss Eddie Howe conceded there was ‘no chance’ the striker would be a late arrival on the pre-season tour. Howe also admitted Isak’s future is ‘not in my full control’, although the club does ‘to a degree’. Did Owen experience a similar situation to Isak? Although Toon fans have been left crushed at Isak’s decision, Owen has the unique position of understanding exactly why the Swede wants to look elsewhere. Owen rose through the ranks of Liverpool’s academy before he broke into the first team and made his senior debut in May 1997 aged just 17. Over the next seven seasons, Owen slammed home 158 goals from 297 appearances for the Reds and even scooped the Ballon d’Or in 2001, such was his brilliance on the field. But as they do so often when a player not on their books excels, Real Madrid came calling in the summer of 2004. Owen joined a star-studdedGetty Images - Getty Speaking to The Athletic last November, Owen opened up on the gut-wrenching decision to leave the club where he made his name. “Real Madrid is a glamour club, but I never had any thoughts or dreams about playing for them,” Owen said. “When I got wind of their interest, I had mixed emotions. There was pride that a club like that was interested in me. There was an intrigue, I guess. “I tossed and turned for nearly a week from the moment I heard about the interest and decided to go. “I spoke to the manager (Rafa Benitez) and I spoke to Rick Parry (chief executive). It was like, ‘Let’s agree I’ll do a year or two then I’ll come back.’ “Subconsciously, that was what I needed, reassurance. I really didn’t want to leave – Liverpool was my club. But I also wondered whether I’d end up regretting it if I didn’t try it.” Owen ultimately played just one season in the Spanish capital where he failed to land any silverware and scored 16 goals from 45 appearances. He returned to the Premier League in 2004 after Newcastle agreed a then-club record fee for his services. Unfortunately for Owen, his time up north was riddled with injuries as he played just 79 games across four seasons. He would later tarnish his reputation amongst Liverpool supporters when he joined their rivals Manchester United in 2009, where he won the Premier League and League Cup. Owen spent three seasons at Old Trafford before he moved to Stoke City in September 2012, which proved to be his final campaign as a professional.

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Michael Owen defends Alexander Isak for ‘ambition’ to leave Newcastle

Michael Owen lamented the ‘sad’ inevitability regarding Alexander Isak’s future at Newcastle.

However, the former Ballon d’Or winner believed the Swedish marksman has every right to want a move away and squeeze as much out of his career as possible.

Isak told Newcastle he wants to leave the club and is absent from their pre-season tour

“If any decent player becomes available, the big boys come and eventually they move,” Owen said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“It’s sad because you want competition in football.

“But you put yourself in a player’s point of view. If you didn’t have ambition, then football would be nothing. You’ve got one short career trying to win as much as you can, trying to get to the best team.

“That’s what drives everybody. People will say it’s money, it’s not.

“Most footballers just want to be in the best teams, in the best competitions and winning trophies.

“Unfortunately, this scenario will never, ever change.”

Why does Isak want to leave Newcastle?

Isak’s future was plunged into uncertainty last Thursday when he expressed a desire to explore his options away from Newcastle.

He was left behind from the Magpies’ pre-season tour due to what the club claimed was a thigh injury, but it was just hours later the true reason for Isak’s absence from the touring squad was confirmed.

Defending Premier League champions Liverpool are the leaders in the hunt for Isak, although Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have also been credited with a serious interest.

Should either side table a bid, it will take serious money to bring Newcastle to the negotiating table after they slapped a £150million price tag on the Swedish international.

Owen backed Isak to go and chase trophies at the best teams on the planet[/caption]

Although Isak remains contracted to Newcastle until 2028, Magpies boss Eddie Howe conceded there was ‘no chance’ the striker would be a late arrival on the pre-season tour.

Howe also admitted Isak’s future is ‘not in my full control’, although the club does ‘to a degree’.

Did Owen experience a similar situation to Isak?

Although Toon fans have been left crushed at Isak’s decision, Owen has the unique position of understanding exactly why the Swede wants to look elsewhere.

Owen rose through the ranks of Liverpool’s academy before he broke into the first team and made his senior debut in May 1997 aged just 17.

Over the next seven seasons, Owen slammed home 158 goals from 297 appearances for the Reds and even scooped the Ballon d’Or in 2001, such was his brilliance on the field.

But as they do so often when a player not on their books excels, Real Madrid came calling in the summer of 2004.

Speaking to The Athletic last November, Owen opened up on the gut-wrenching decision to leave the club where he made his name.

“Real Madrid is a glamour club, but I never had any thoughts or dreams about playing for them,” Owen said.

“When I got wind of their interest, I had mixed emotions. There was pride that a club like that was interested in me. There was an intrigue, I guess.

“I tossed and turned for nearly a week from the moment I heard about the interest and decided to go.

“I spoke to the manager (Rafa Benitez) and I spoke to Rick Parry (chief executive). It was like, ‘Let’s agree I’ll do a year or two then I’ll come back.’

“Subconsciously, that was what I needed, reassurance. I really didn’t want to leave – Liverpool was my club. But I also wondered whether I’d end up regretting it if I didn’t try it.”

Owen ultimately played just one season in the Spanish capital where he failed to land any silverware and scored 16 goals from 45 appearances.

He returned to the Premier League in 2004 after Newcastle agreed a then-club record fee for his services.

Unfortunately for Owen, his time up north was riddled with injuries as he played just 79 games across four seasons.

He would later tarnish his reputation amongst Liverpool supporters when he joined their rivals Manchester United in 2009, where he won the Premier League and League Cup.

Owen spent three seasons at Old Trafford before he moved to Stoke City in September 2012, which proved to be his final campaign as a professional.