Al-Hilal talks and where the Alexander Isak agent quote actually came from – The reality | OneFootball

The recent hours have been filled with headlines regarding an interview the agent of Alexander Isak is claimed to have done about the striker’s future.

Those headlines, in the UK and overseas, related to what Gonzalo Gaitan had said, allegedly.

This reported interview with Alexander Isak’s agent only involving one reported sentence and claimed to come from ‘Saudi Arabian newspaper Arriyadiyah.’

I hadn’t seen anything beyond this one sentence, whilst none of the media I saw carrying it, had a link to the original article and interview.

The quote that has been repeatedly reported is Gonzalo Gaitan claimed to have said:

“We are indeed studying and analysing all options and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Alexander Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle.”

I have now managed to track down the original interview on the Al-Riyadiyah site and the claimed ‘interview’ is even shorter than what the UK media are are reporting!

Al-Riyadiyah report on Alexander Isak – 20 July 2025:

‘Player’s agency to Al-Riyadiyah: Alexander Isak’s decision is imminent

Swedish striker Alexander Isak, the Newcastle United striker, is close to deciding whether to leave or stay during the current summer transfer window, according to what Gonzalo Gaitan, one of his agents, confirmed to Al-Riyadiyah.

Gaitan said: “We are already studying and analysing all options, and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player,” without revealing further details about Isak’s transfer or his stay with the Magpies.

Al-Riyadiyah indicated on Saturday, through its own sources, that Isak has become the first choice for the Blues officials in the capital.

Meanwhile, English reports stressed Newcastle’s insistence on the player, indicating that the club will not agree to his departure for less than 150 million pounds. During last season, the Swedish striker played 42 matches in various competitions, scoring 27 goals and providing six assists.’

So rather than Isak’s agent claimed to have said:

“We are indeed studying and analysing all options and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Alexander Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle.”

The reality is that the Al-Riyadiyah quote from the interview is only:

“We are already studying and analysing all options, and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player” (with then UK and media elsewhere adding on “without revealing further details about Isak’s transfer or his stay with the Magpies” as though it was part of the interview/quote).

The background to this Al-Riyadiyah article and interview is that over in Saudi Arabia, the media speculation has been that Alexander Isak could sign for Al-Hilal.

I know that as Newcastle United fans we are constantly subjected to endless claims from unscrupulous media, as well deluded fans of rival fanbases of the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal claiming Alexander Isak is a lifelong fan of their respective clubs and is desperate to get away from Newcastle to join them. That is bad enough. However, with no disrespect to the Saudi league, if Alexander Isak in his prime was open to move to such a lowly league simply for huge wages, my mind would be truly blown.

Newcastle United actually played Al-Hilal in a friendly back in December 2022 on a trip to Saudi Arabia, United hammering them 5-0.

Not long after that, in June 2023 it was announced that Al-Hilal along with three other Saudi clubs (Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr) had been taken over by Saudi Arabia PIF in terms of 75 per cent majority ownership of each of the four clubs.

Recently, it has been reported that the Al-Ahli will remain the only one of the four to still have 75 per cent direct PIF ownership. However, the companies that are claimed to be set to acquire Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr, JCDC and Riyadh Air respectively, the PIF owns a large percentage of their shares as well.

Whilst as for Al-Hilal, the 75 per cent PIF stake will supposedly be transferred to Kingdom Holding Company, which is reported to be 17 per cent owned by PIF.

As I said above, I don’t believe there is a chance in a million of Alexander Isak moving to the Saudi league this summer. However, if indeed the Sweden international did somehow move from Newcastle United to a PIF controlled Saudi club, or indeed any Saudi club, for some spectacular amount of cash, you can just imagine what the meltdown would be like in the media and elsewhere!