Newcastle United have a superstar in Alexander Isak, and so do Sweden.
They are one of the bigger nations not competing at Euro 2024, meaning Alexander Isak is missing out on the chance to strut his stuff on in the international stage. It is a stage he is familiar with, having previously represented Sweden at Euro 2020.
The 24-year-old is certainly the best player that Sweden have, even if he often finds it much tougher in a yellow shirt than he does in the black and white of Newcastle United.
Alexander Isak likened to Sweden great
But given his ability as a striker and the fact that he is Swedish, comparisons to Zlatan Ibrahimovic have followed him throughout his career.
Ever at the age of 17, Isak was heralded as the ‘next Zlatan’. That was a lot of responsibility on a very young man’s shoulders, but he has certainly developed into a player who can go on to have the same calibre of career as Ibrahimovic had.
However, Newcastle United’s record signing certainly does not enjoy being compared to the former PSG, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United forward.
How Alexander Isak feels about Zlatan Ibrahimovic comparisons
That is according to Swedish journalist Johan Kucukaslan, who has spoke to the Athletic about Alexander Isak and those comparisons to Ibrahimovic.
“I have interviewed Alexander a lot of times and he is not fond of getting questions about Zlatan because he doesn’t want to compare himself,” he said.
“They’re two different players, two different personalities.”
Newcastle forward is more like Thierry Henry
Isak does not appreciate the Ibrahimovic comparisons, and it is easy to understand why. As Johan Kucukaslan says, they are very different players with very different personalities.
Zlatan is larger than life. He played with a supreme level of confidence that you used to get from Eric Cantona, while he spoke as someone who believed he was every bit as good as people said he was. The 42-year-old will even talk about himself in the third person, which is something you would associate with a megastar like The Rock.
While Ibrahimovic talked the talk and walked the walk, Isak is completely different.
The talent is there, but he is much more laid back. He oozes coolness, while he plays more like another legendary forward in Thierry Henry.
That is who Newcastle United staff have compared him to, and it is easy to see why. He is lightening quick, an extremely talented dribbler and a deadly finisher. When he runs at you off that left flank, he is almost unstoppable, just like Henry was.
Ibrahimovic comparisons are lazy, while likening him to Henry has almost become a bit of a cliché. But he is deserving of that tag, as he continues to prove why he is expected to develop into a world class player.
That is what Newcastle hope, as they prepare to hand him a new contract to reflect his importance to their project.
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