When he was only 16 years old and promoted to the first team of AIK, Alexander Isak received a half-joking advice from coach Peter whenberg that if he joined a big club one day, he would have to "take him with him".
Nearly a decade later, that became a reality when Isak did not go to Real Madrid but arrived at Liverpool for a record fee of £125 million, becoming the most shocking deal of the summer 2025.
The Swedish striker has previously accused Newcastle of breaking his promise, although the "Magpies" board denied it. However, Isak's departure was inevitable and he was eventually announced as Liverpool's new number 9 on the last day of the transfer window.
Isak's controversial transfer strategy has been met with criticism, but history shows that the 25-year-old striker has always been proactive in taking the future.
Right from his days at AIK, Isak showed a different personality. When When When Isak was around 16 years old, he would just say hi to the loudspeaker every time he went to the dressing room. One day I called him back and said that there are 7 coaches here who are making plans for him. But he only greeted for an hour and left.
From the next time, he walked forward, smiling and asked: "Teachers, what plans do you have for me today?". That is Isak, a person who always wants to lead his own destiny".
That strong personality promises to help Isak quickly prove himself at Liverpool. However, after missing most of the pre-season at Newcastle and having to practice separately while waiting for his future to be decided, Isak has not had many opportunities to play.
The 25-year-old striker was not used in Sweden's draw with Slovenia and only played 18 minutes against Kosovo. Meanwhile, rookie Hugo Ekitike scored twice in the Premier League, helping to reduce the immediate pressure on Isak. However, Liverpool fans are still eagerly waiting for the record-breaking debut in the match against Burnley this weekend.
Starting his football career on a local artificial turf pitch, Isak joined the AIK academy at the age of 6. He quickly made a strong impression on coaches thanks to his natural talent.
"He came to prominence very early, around 8, 9, but it wasn't until he was 15, that you really recognized Isak as special. Not only in technique, but also in the passion that comes to light in the eyes. His learning process is extraordinary. And when you practice, you will clearly feel Isak's relentless fighting spirit" - whenberg added.
According to whenberg, that quality was clearly shown in a cup match with the AIK U19 team, where Isak scored from the first shot.
"It was just a local cup match, nothing too special for us. As soon as the opening whistle blew, he had the ball in the middle of the pitch, noticed the goalkeeper standing slightly high and immediately fired a shot straight into the goal.
For most young players, it could be a normal game, easily causing them to lose focus, but Isak is different. In moments that others are easily negligent, he is the sharpest," whenberg recalled.
Isak will have to wait a little longer to be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes. However, training videos posted by Liverpool on social media show that he is in an extremely sharp state.
That has led coach Arne Slot to believe that the Swedish striker could well become an exposure when coming off the bench at Turf Moor.
Of course, as the most expensive signing in Premier League history, Isak's pressure to meet expectations will be greater than ever. However, if you look back at the career path he has gone through, it would be naive to doubt Isak's ability to turn pressure into motivation to realize his ambition with Liverpool.
