Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has weighed in on Alexander Isak’s controversial switch from Newcastle United to Liverpool, insisting players should not be condemned for forcing through transfers.
The Swedish striker angered Newcastle fans after refusing to play for the club as he pushed for a move, eventually sealing a British-record £125m transfer to the Premier League champions on Monday.
In contrast, Marc Guehi’s proposed move from Crystal Palace to Liverpool collapsed when Palace blocked the deal, but the defender earned praise for his professionalism in continuing to perform for his club.
Speaking at the World Football Summit in Hong Kong, Ferdinand argued that players are unfairly judged compared to clubs in such situations.
“Nice guys don’t win,” he said. “Clubs get away with murder in these situations. How many players over the years were denied a move because the club was being greedy? But when players say, ‘It’s a great offer, I want to go and win trophies,’ they get vilified.”
Ferdinand, who himself became the most expensive British player when he joined Manchester United from Leeds in 2002, warned that Guehi’s missed opportunity could affect his career trajectory.
“What if Liverpool don’t come back for him? Or he gets injured and never gets the chance to win trophies? That’s why some players have to dig their heels in,” he said. “It’s business, and players shouldn’t be vilified when clubs aren’t.”
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