Refusing to play or train can often help a wantaway footballer force through a transfer – but it doesn't always work out that way…

Newcastle ace Alexander Isak trying to force through a move to Liverpool has unquestionably been the story of the 2025 summer transfer window, and it's still unclear whether the forward will be at St. James' Park, Anfield or still sitting at home when the transfer window closes on September 1.

The Swede refused to go on the Magpies' pre-season tour of Asia, preferring instead to train alone in San Sebastian, while he played no part in his team's Premier League opener against Aston Villa last weekend. He also upped the ante on Monday by accusing his employers of breaking promises and arguing that a parting of the ways is now the best – and only – option for everyone involved.

Newcastle, though, have shown little sign of softening their stance that Isak is not for sale – particularly as they've already failed to sign so many potential replacements. But, as GOAL outlines below, when it comes to players going on strike, one can never be quite sure how things are going to pan out… 

Getty Images SportPierre van Hooijdonk

Pierre van Hooijdonk went on strike at Nottingham Forest during the summer of 1998, but his issues with the club and its manager, Dave Bassett, actually began the previous December.

"I had the opportunity to go to PSV and I told Bassett I wasn’t satisfied with the whole setup," the former Netherlands international later revealed in an interview with . "He said: 'I can’t let you go, we want to get back to the Premier League, you’re top goal-scorer, I cannot defend myself if I sell you.'

"I said: 'OK but I want to go after the season.' He said: 'Get us back to the Premier League and we'll let you go.'"

They didn't, though. Despite Van Hooijdonk firing Forest back into the English top-flight with 29 goals in 42 games, the club's owners refused to sanction his sale, prompting Van Hooijdonk to take matters into his own hands. The disgruntled Dutchman returned to his homeland to train with former club NAC Breda and didn't return to the City Ground until November. By that stage, Forest were already struggling, and when Bassett was fired in January 1999, the manager blamed 'player power' for his dismissal.

However, Van Hooijdonk's only regret is not waiting until August 1998 before going on strike and, to this day, has zero sympathy for Bassett. "He was a rat, a snake, and he still keeps saying things about me," Van Hooijdonk said. "He is the worst I've come across."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPaul Scholes

Paul Scholes rarely put a foot wrong during his trophy-laden career at Manchester United, but he knew that he erred badly the night he refused to travel with the rest of the squad for a Worthington Cup clash with Arsenal in November 2001.

The England international had been annoyed by Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to leave him on the bench for 77 minutes of the Premier League loss to Liverpool the day before and couldn't understand why he was likely to be the "only first-teamer" to be called up for the trip to north London.

"I was p*ssed off," Scholes admitted on years later. "We were meeting at Stockport that night at the train station. I actually drove to the train station and told him I wasn’t going. It was crazy, stupid, but my head had gone. After that game, it was an international break, so it went on and on, and on.

"There was no contact because I was with England, so I had to wait 10 days before I spoke to him. He didn't get mad but he did fine me two weeks' wages. I apologised but I didn’t think I would survive after that, to be honest. I thought I would be gone."

Scholes need not have worried, though; the gifted midfielder would go on to spend another 12 years at his hometown club!

Getty Images SportWilliam Gallas

There are acrimonious exits and then there's William Gallas leaving Chelsea for Arsenal in September 2006. In an extraordinary statement issued by the Blues after the transfer, which saw Ashley Cole move in the opposite direction, they claimed that the Frenchman had, among other things, rejected "a substantial and attractive new contract" while "hawking himself to the highest bidder".

Chelsea also alleged that Gallas had "refused to play against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final in an effort to force an increased offer". Most shockingly of all, though, the Blues accused Gallas of threatening to sabotage his own side if he were selected for the club's 2006-07 Premier League opener against Manchester City.

"He said if he was forced to play, or if he was disciplined and financially punished for his breach of the rules, that he could score an own-goal or get himself sent off, or make deliberate mistakes," the Chelsea statement read. "Clearly this was a totally unacceptable situation. So, a collectively agreed solution in Chelsea's interests had to be found; hence his departure."

Gallas was unsurprisingly outraged by these claims. "I am surprised and shocked," the defender told reporters. "I certainly never said I'd try and score an own-goal if I ever played for Chelsea again. I was very firm in my desire to leave – that's clear – and I've already explained why. But I never went that far.

"If people want to hide behind these ridiculous accusations to explain why I left to keep onside with their club's supporters, that's what they do. I don't think it'll fool anybody."

Getty ImagesJulien Faubert

Julien Faubert attracted the attention of a number of British clubs during his time at Bordeaux and, during the summer of 2007, both West Ham and Rangers were keen on signing a player who had made his France debut the previous August.

Les Girondins weren't particularly keen on letting the right-back leave, but Faubert had no intention of staying at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, so he went on strike.

"Sometimes you have to take extreme measures," he told after completing a move to West Ham. "I used [the strike] to show my unhappiness. It was not a lack of respect towards the club. I will never disassociate myself from Bordeaux, because they are a club who have been enormously useful to me in my career, who made me progress and allowed me to become an international. They remain a club very dear to me, like Cannes where I started."

Indeed, despite his questionable behaviour, Faubert actually returned for a second spell at Bordeaux in 2013.