Liverpool’s high-profile acquisition of Alexander Isak, finalized on deadline day for a record-breaking £125 million, potentially rising to £130 million with add-ons—was anything but simple.
Behind closed doors, the club’s sports science team ..Continue Reading
played a pivotal role in addressing major concerns surrounding the Swedish forward’s fitness, as reported by Express.
Isak’s injury history was a red flag for Liverpool. During his time at Newcastle, where he joined in 2022 for a then-club record of £63 million, he missed 39 matches and over 200 training sessions, largely due to recurring groin problems.
Given the scale of the investment, Liverpool needed firm reassurances before finalizing the deal.
Their sports science experts carried out a comprehensive evaluation of Isak’s physical condition to determine whether he could withstand the demands of top-flight football at Anfield.
Fortunately, the assessment concluded that his fitness could be managed effectively, and that tailored training and monitoring could reduce the risk of future setbacks.
The journey to Merseyside wasn’t smooth for Isak. After Newcastle stalled negotiations, he refused to participate in pre-season activities and trained solo in Spain, further raising doubts about his readiness.
Nonetheless, Liverpool proceeded with confidence, leaning on their internal evaluations and trusting their medical infrastructure to guide Isak’s integration.
After the transfer, Isak joined the Swedish national team, where head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson echoed Liverpool’s cautious approach.
He acknowledged that Isak wasn’t ready for full-match action but commended the close collaboration between Sweden’s and Liverpool’s medical teams.
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