Gary Neville has risked irking Arsenal fans for his ‘delusional’ transfer verdict on Newcastle star and Gunners transfer target Alexander Isak
Gary Neville has angered Arsenal fans with his transfer verdict on Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
Isak has become one of the most sought-after strikers in world football since making a club-record £63million switch to St James’ Park from Real Sociedad in 2022. The 25-year-old’s form has improved season by season and he’s now regarded as one of the best No.9s around today.
The Swede is exactly the kind of player Mikel Arteta needs at Arsenal if he is to finally break the Gunners’ run of being the bridesmaid in the title race and land the Premier League.
Arsenal have been heavily rumoured to be keen admirers of Isak, who would likely command a Premier League record fee to leave Tyneside this summer. However, Neville failed to mention Arsenal when he spoke about the clubs that Isak would want to leave Newcastle and join.
Speaking on It’s Called Soccer, Neville said: “They are going to struggle to hold on to Isak at some point. He’s going to want to play somewhere else, that’s just unfortunately the nature of the beast.
“Newcastle’s a great football club, but they will want to play for Real Madrids and Liverpools and Manchester Uniteds and Bayern Munichs.
Arsenal fans reacted furiously to Neville’s comments on social media, with one user writing on X: “According to Neville, a player like Isak will want to leave Newcastle for the Real Madrids, Liverpools, Bayern Munichs and ‘Manchester Utds’. Since Fergie left, they’ve signed one T3 world players in their prime (Pogba).”
They added: “Right now, you’d have to be delusional to think Utd can sign world class players like him.” A second echoed the statement, saying: “Neville you are utterly delusional if you think isak would leave for this man utd. utterly embarrassing opinion.”
A third added: “Of course. Salty Neville doesn’t rate Arsenal. There is no way Isak would go to Man U at the moment.” While another wrote: “He’s in denial if he’s placing Man U on an even keel with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern.”
Isak is currently 3rd in the top Premier League goalscorers this season with 19 goals in 25 games, with his minutes-per-goal ratio only bettered by Mohamed Salah. Newcastle are firmly in the mix for Champions League football next season, which would prove a major boost to keeping the Swede.