Bruno Guimaraes has been talking about Alexander Isak.
Both players now preparing for the 2026 World Cup finals.
Bruno Guimaraes and Brazil kicking off their group matches against Morocco on Saturday (13 June) at 11pm (UK time).
Alexander Isak and Sweden facing Tunisia on Monday 15 June at 3am (UK time).
This time last year of course, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak were still Newcastle United teammates, both of them (or so we thought…) looking to build on a 2024/25 NUFC season that had seen a trophy won and a second Champions League campaign in three years secured.
Bruno Guimaraes has now been asked whether the Alexander Isak situation last summer and the Sweden striker’s exit wrecked Newcastle United’s season.
Bruno Guimaraes replying to AS (quotes translated by Sport Witness): “I see the process as a whole. I don’t think any single incident changed our [Newcastle United’s course. We lacked a run of good performances, consistency in the starting eleven, we suffered some injuries, and all of that played a part.”
I think you also have to factor in the reality of the situation.
Alexander Isak had 29 Premier League direct goal involvements for Newcastle United in 2024/25, scoring 23 and getting six assists.
In the 2025/26 season, Alexander Isak only four direct goal involvements for Liverpool in the Premier League, three goals and one assist.
Of course he got injured but after the way he acted throughout summer 2025, even if Alexander Isak had ended up not leaving, exactly what would United have got out of him anyway???
Alexander Isak also asked by AS what lessons had been learnt generally by Newcastle United after the 2025/26 season: “It has been a season where we haven’t reached our full potential and that will undoubtedly serve as a lesson for the future. We haven’t been able to maintain consistency and that has had a significant impact.”
Maybe a more pertinent question is what would have happened if Bruno Guimaraes hadn’t picked up his first major injury whilst playing for Newcastle United? Such a crucial time of the season when the inspirational Newcastle captain wasn’t available to start for 13 games after the away win at Spurs in February, United lost five of the seven Premier League matches they played during the time Bruno Guimaraes couldn’t start games.