Isak, Guehi transfer sagas show 'nice guys don't win'

Players should not be vilified for forcing through transfer moves, former England star Rio Ferdinand told AFP on Sept 3 following the Alexander Isak saga, adding: "Nice guys don't win."

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HONG KONG - Players should not be vilified for forcing through transfer moves, former England star Rio Ferdinand told AFP on Sept 3 following the Alexander Isak saga, adding: "Nice guys don't win."

Isak is public enemy No. 1 at Newcastle United after making it clear that he did not want to play for the club again as he attempted to engineer a move to Liverpool.

The Swedish striker, 25, got his wish by sealing a British record £125 million (S$216.2 million) switch to the English Premier League champions on Sept 1.

England defender Marc Guehi, however, saw his move to Liverpool break down after Crystal Palace vetoed his sale at the last minute.

In contrast to the bitter Isak saga, Guehi earned plaudits for continuing to play and perform for Palace, despite Liverpool's advances.

"Nice guys don't win," former England and Manchester United defender Ferdinand said on the sidelines of the World Football Summit in Hong Kong.

"The clubs get away with murder in these situations. How many players down the years were denied a move because the clubs said it wasn't this, and it wasn't that? Being greedy.