When a player signs their dream contract, it feels like everything is perfect. The club celebrates them, the fans cheer their name, and the future looks bright. But football doesn’t always follow the script.
One bad moment, one broken promise, or one tough decision can turn happiness into chaos, and this year, we have seen a lot of drama.
From Vinicius Jr leashing in anger after Xabi Alonso substituted him during El Clásico against Barcelona, feeling disrespected.
To Manchester United where Marcus Rashford’s problems with manager Ruben Amorim got so out of hand that Amorim publicly said he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital on the bench than a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.
Who can forget Alexander Isak’s situation with Newcastle at the start of the season? Newcastle had made promises they could not keep and Isak was tired of waiting and feeling misled. As fate would have it – the goal-getter forced his way out. Liverpool paid a huge fee, and he made his fairytale move to Anfield.
Liverpool still remain in the spotlight now with all eyes on Mohamed Salah as he was reduced to a spectator. He thinks someone inside (read Slot) Liverpool is trying to force him out.
Mohamed Salah
Last season was Salah’s best yet. He was the Premier League top goal scorer with 29 goals, 18 assists, and was the main reason Liverpool won the league title.
Things are going south now for Slot and Liverpool, and not many would have predicted that Salah would be the scapegoat. In a candid interview, Salah accused Slot of “throwing him under the bus”.
When Slot was asked if Salah was talking about him, he said, “Only Mo can answer that. I can guess, but I don’t think I should do that. Honestly, I don’t know who he means.”
Slot also revealed that the only recent conversation he had with Salah was to inform him that he would not be included in the Champions League squad. Many Liverpool fans were shocked by this decision and questioned what was happening behind the scenes.
Rumours are spreading that the club may consider selling him. Right now, Salah is preparing to travel to the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday, with his future at Liverpool uncertain.
Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for £34.3 million, Salah has scored over 250 goals for the club, becoming one of Liverpool’s greatest forwards of all time.
Vinicius Junior
In October, Vinicius Junior caused a major scene after lashing out publicly when he felt “disrespected” by Xabi Alonso for being substituted during the second half of the match against Barcelona.
According to Sky Sports senior journalist Kaveh Solhekol, a meeting was held at the Bernabeu headquarters, where Alonso expressed that he is not a big fan of Vinicius’ style of play.
In that meeting, the 25-year-old was told he needed to adapt to the new style. Vinicius later apologised for his public outburst, but the situation has left him frustrated, and he is now considering his options outside Madrid with only 18 months left on his contract.
Defensively, he has added that to his game as well, but for whatever reason, he still feels that he is not getting the trust and respect that he deserves from his head coach.
“Vinicius has 16 months left in his contract and could look to leave in January. Asked if Vinicius Junior was to go, what are his options?
“I don’t think he’s got very many options,” Kaveh added.
“The problem is he’s such a good player, and he earns so much money. There are very, very few clubs that could afford the overall package to sign him. He will be out of contract in the summer of 2027.
There have been lots of talks that he’s going to sign a new contract.
“Reports have already linked him to Saudi Arabian side Al Ahly, with a rumored transfer fee of around £300 million, a figure that would break records and signal one of the biggest transfers in football history.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford’s time at Manchester became very difficult after he had a serious argument with manager Ruben Amorim. The 40-year-old coach was very unhappy with some of Rashford’s off-field habits, things he had asked Rashford to change several times.
When Rashford didn’t listen, Amorim decided to remove him from the squad. Amorim didn’t hide his feelings.
He openly said that Rashford’s attitude in training wasn’t good enough. “I would rather play my 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital on the bench than a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day,”
Because of this tension, Rashford was sent on loan to Aston Villa in February 2025. During his time at Villa, Rashford made 18 appearances, scored nine goals, and provided four assists, and his good performances also earned him a return to the England national team after manager Thomas Tuchel called him back into the squad.
The 27-year-old signed a loan deal for the 2025/2026 season with an option to buy him for £ 26 million next summer.
Alexander Isak
At the start of pre-season, Isak has been training by himself instead of with the rest of the team. The Swedish striker made headlines in August after posting a shocking message online, showing his frustration with Newcastle United for rejecting Liverpool’s £110 million offer.
On Instagram, Isak wrote: “I’ve stayed quiet for a long time while others talked. Because of that, people have been able to spread their own stories, even though they know those stories aren’t true.
“Promises were made to me, and the club has known how I feel for a long time. Acting like these problems are new is not honest.
“When promises are broken, and trust is gone, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me now, and that’s why a change is best for everyone.”
Newcastle’s top management, including the sporting director and chief executive, even went to Isak’s house to talk to him.
They tried to convince him to stay, offering new terms and trying to fix the situation. But Isak didn’t change his mind. In the end, Newcastle allowed him to leave, and the 25-year-old signed with the Red Devils.
Since joining his new club, he has played eight games, scored one goal, and made one assist.
