Newcastle United transfer truth as Sandro Tonali makes mockery of 'nonsensical' Italian media claims

The Italian media have done nothing but hype up the prospect of Sandro Tonali returning to Serie A since the moment he joined Newcastle United from AC Milan for £55million. Now, who’s going to tell them? Because it’s just getting silly now.

From December onwards, Newcastle have witnessed the birth of one of the Premier League’s, if not Europe’s, best midfielders. His move into the ‘No.6’ role has proven transformative in so many different ways.

Not only has it brought out the best in the Italian, whose first season in black and white was a write-off due to his 10-month betting ban, but it has allowed the Magpies to do what they do best - and that’s play at a high intensity.

Tonali epitomises that, and you only have to go back to his last two performance against Manchester United and Crystal Palace to prove that. Not that it needs proven mind, because Newcastle are fully aware what a top player they have at their disposal.

“Outstanding,” Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall said after Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Palace. “Sandro is a fantastic player, a top, top player. And I think we've started to see the best of Sandro Tonali in recent weeks, and the long may that continues.

“He's got so many great qualities, he's exceptional on the ball, whether it's one touch, two touch, he always makes really good decisions. Very, very quick, reads the game extremely well.”

His technical ability has rarely been in question - there aren’t many who can strike a ball or pass a ball like him. But what has really began to set him above from the rest is his ability to cover every blade of grass.

“When he starts he turns the engine on at a thousand and when he turns it off it goes at a thousand the same,” Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said in October. Although it probably wasn’t until now that we released exactly what Spalletti meant.

Italian media reports just don’t make sense

From minute one to minute 90, the man simply does not tire. ‘Like a new signing’ is a clichéd term but the 24-year-old has been exactly that, he has taken the team onto a new level. After winning the Carabao Cup, Champions League qualification is well within their grasp.

All that is exactly why talk of a Tonali return to Italy is nonsensical. Reports there over the last week say Newcastle would demand £60-70million. It is just us or is that £100m too short!? Even at that price - a figure no Italian club is capable of meeting - the Magpies probably still wouldn’t entertain bids.

As it stands, Tonali is arguably United’s most integral player. So, sorry Italy but the only time Tonali will be returning any time soon is for international duty.

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