Elanga left Nottingham last summer to become a club teammate with Isak and Emil Krafth in Newcastle. But by then, Isak had already decided to force a move to Liverpool at all costs.
Elanga is not the least interested in commenting on all the twists in the controversial and record-expensive transfer.
He had a contract with us, but right now he is with Liverpool. We all think he is a very good football player who we have lost, but we have also recruited good players. Hopefully, we can just look forward and focus on this season.
Wishes good luck
Do you think it was sad that he left considering you are friends and play in the national team?
It's his choice. He chose Liverpool. It's just to wish him good luck. He is a good friend of mine and I get the chance to play with him in the national team.
It's also good, says Elanga.
In Isak's and Viktor Gyökeres' absence, Elanga and Benjamin Nygren formed a forward duo in the 2–0 win against Hungary in Budapest in June.
In the first half, he hit the crossbar, at the end of the match he got a goal disallowed for offside. In between, he had a few chances to make the win bigger. Despite the missed chances, Elanga was one of Sweden's best players at Puskás Aréna.
If I'm going to be honest, I have to say that this was one of my best national team games so far, he said then.
Gets a place in the starting eleven
But an Elanga who shows himself from his very best side, we have not seen yet, he thinks.
I always say that the next match will be my best.
Now that Isak is match-trained, the possibility is great that Elanga will take a place in tonight's starting eleven when the World Championship qualification begins against Slovenia in Ljubljana.
For me, it's always an honor to represent Sweden, whether I get to play or not. If I get to play, I really want to show what I can do. If I'm on the bench, I'm always ready, he says.
