Wayne Rooney criticises Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa for unprofessional behaviour during transfer disputes, calling their actions disrespectful to clubs.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a scathing verdict on the current transfer sagas surrounding Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa.

Both players have become embroiled in disputes with their respective clubs, with Isak pushing for a move to Liverpool and Wissa forcing the issue to join Newcastle.

Rooney, speaking on his new BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, criticised the manner in which modern players attempt to engineer transfers.

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The former England captain highlighted that while moves are a natural part of football, the way they are handled reflects character and professionalism.

“If I’m a Newcastle player I don’t want Isak back,” Rooney said.

“I think if players leave football clubs – and that happens all the time – there’s a way to go about it. You can’t go on strike, can’t not turn up for training and train with your team-mates. If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your team-mates and be ready if needed.”

Isak has been in a standoff with Newcastle since the club rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool 19 days ago.

The Swedish striker publicly claimed “promises were broken and trust is lost,” intensifying speculation over his future. BBC Sport reports that Isak believed he would be allowed to leave if a top club made the right offer.

Rooney, however, was clear that such behaviour damages relationships beyond just club management.

“For me, I don’t think there’s any way back for Isak at Newcastle,” he explained.

“I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, I don’t think I could accept them back. In terms of Isak’s team-mates I wouldn’t want him back.”

While Newcastle’s situation with Isak continues to escalate, their pursuit of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has sparked further controversy.

The London club recently rejected a £40m offer for the Congolese forward, who subsequently removed all traces of Brentford from his Instagram account.

He also flew home early from pre-season training and was omitted from the squad in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest.

Rooney believes Wissa’s conduct is even worse than Isak’s.

“I think Wissa is in a worse position than Isak is purely for that. For Wissa to just un-follow the club and take all his pictures down of a club who’ve helped you progress as a player… I think these players are like kids now, or they’re very badly advised in what they’re doing because I know agents have influence.”

The Brentford star’s social media move has been seen by fans as a symbolic severing of ties with the club, an action Rooney finds both petty and disrespectful.

Rooney’s comments reflect growing frustration among former professionals regarding the way younger players handle contract disputes and transfer demands.

With agents – often family members – taking increasing control of negotiations, decisions can sometimes undermine player reputations.

“You’ve got friends in there who you play with, you have fans who are paying a lot of money to support and you can’t just walk out on it,” Rooney said.

“And if they’re going to do it once, they’ll do it again.”

With the transfer window still open, Newcastle face the dual challenge of resisting Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak while attempting to lure Wissa from Brentford.

For Rooney, however, the bigger issue is the respect owed to teammates, clubs, and supporters – something he feels is sorely lacking in the actions of both players.