Wayne Rooney's transfer fury speaks volumes after Sir Alex Ferguson looked the other way

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Wayne Rooney condemned Alexander Isak 's efforts to force a move away from Newcastle , over 10 years on from the England great's bid to facilitate a departure from Manchester United . The Sweden international has been embroiled in the most toxic saga of the summer transfer window as he attempts to leave the Premier League side after three years on Tyneside.

Liverpool tabled a £110million bid for his services , which was swiftly rejected at the start of the month. And Isak has reportedly refused to ever play for the club again , despite having three years left on his contract.

The 25-year-old broke his silence for the first time this summer earlier this week, where he accused the club's hierarchy of "breaking promises". Isak was absent from the matchday squad of the Magpies' league opener against Aston Villa , which they drew 0-0.

With less than 10 days remaining in the window, it remains to be seen whether Isak – who has been training alone – will clinch his dream move to Anfield or whether Eddie Howe will manage to hold on to his star man. He is not expected to figure against Liverpool on Monday night.

Plenty have had their say on Isak's behaviour in order to engineer a move away, with Rooney admitting if he was a team-mate of the Swede, he wouldn't welcome him back.

While there is no evidence the Red Devils icon refused to train or play in the two instances he requested to leave Old Trafford, he stated there are correct ways to go about requesting an exit.

"If I'm a Newcastle player, I don't want Isak back," he said on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show . "I think if players leave football clubs – and that happens all the time – there's a way to go about it. You can't go on strike, can't not turn up for training and train with your team-mates.

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"If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your team-mates and be ready if needed. So I think if I was a player I wouldn't want him back. He's deserted you. He doesn't want to be there, he doesn't want to be your team-mate. So I wouldn't want him back."

It was in 2010 when Rooney first submitted a transfer request to leave United but eventually opted to stay before signing a bumper five-year deal, as Ferguson ultimately turned a blind eye to the first saga where the player had wanted to join Chelsea .

It was only three years later, in Sir Alex Ferguson's last season in charge, that Rooney once again asked to leave the club, with the Scotsman confirming the club had refused his transfer request.

Ferguson admitted that was the reason Rooney was absent from his last home game in charge, which was a 2-1 win over Swansea. He said: "I don't think Wayne was keen to play, simply because he has asked for a transfer."

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Once again, Rooney was convinced to stay, this time under David Moyes , as he penned a contract extension with the club in February 2014.

Despite Rooney's claim that Isak can no longer make amends in the north east, he certainly was able to under both Ferguson and Moyes.

Rooney added: "Now, Newcastle aren't happy with Isak's behaviour because Liverpool want to sign him. But then on the flip side of that, Newcastle are trying to sign Yoane Wissa who's behaving the exact same way at Brentford .

"I remember Anthony Gordon not playing for Everton because he wanted to go to Newcastle. So you can't have it both ways. But in terms of Isak's team-mates, I wouldn't want him back. Once you've overstepped the mark I think it's very difficult to come back in.

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"You can ask to leave a football club – that happens – or the club tell you you're leaving. But you have to be professional. You've got friends in there who you play with, you have fans who are paying a lot of money to support and you can't just walk out on it. And if they're going to do it once, they'll do it again.

"For me, I don't think there's any way back for Isak at Newcastle. I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, don't think I could accept them back."

Newcastle will host Liverpool on Monday Night Football in their first home game of the season, which could prove to be an enthralling evening of action with plenty of emotions running high at St. James' Park.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Manchester UnitedAlexander IsakWayne RooneyTransfer RumorEl ClasicoPremier LeagueNewcastleLiverpool