I told Man United I want to leave — Rooney weighs in on Isak saga

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticised Alexander Isak’s attempt to force a transfer out of Newcastle by going on strike, suggesting that the Sweden international was going about it the wrong way. 

Rooney, in his new role as a pundit on Match of the Day, analysed the saga, Mail Sport reported. He explained that Isak's actions could cause a breakdown in trust with his teammate. He also questioned whether Liverpool should want a player that would behave that way, anyway. 

"The fact that he's refusing to come in and train, it's going to be very difficult for him to come back in,” he said. “There's a trust element there; he's going about it the wrong way. Maybe he's getting advised wrongly.

"But also for the team who's trying to sign him, in this case it looks like Liverpool, you have to wonder, is this the sort of player you want who's going to desert his teammates and a huge football club? It's a good opportunity, but it has to be done in the right way.”

Rooney also referenced his own experience. The former Birmingham coach asked to leave Manchester United on two separate occasions, in 2010 and 2013 before making a U-turn on both occasions. Wielding that experience, he adjudged that Isak was employing the wrong tactic to fulfil his ambition.  

"There's the right way to do it and the wrong way. And I've been there myself when I've asked Manchester United to leave."