‘One of the best’ - Sandro Tonali's agent brutally honest on possible Newcastle United exit
Sandro Tonali’s agent has made Newcastle United crystal clear that he is not planning a return to AC Milan.
Italian media have attempted to stir up speculation since the midfielder joined the Magpies in 2023. Tonali arrived for £55million less than two years ago once Newcastle qualified for the Champions League.
He made just 12 appearances before receiving a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations during his time at Milan. A period in the wilderness allowed Tonali to rebuild and come back stronger for Newcastle.
The 24-year-old returned in August against Nottingham Forest but Eddie Howe eased him back into St James' Park life. A spell as a sub saw him play predominantly as a right-sided No.8 before a season-defining position change.
Howe shifted Tonali to a deep-lying role, adding protection to the backline while giving Bruno Guimaraes licence to get forward. This resulted in the Magpies propelling into a Champions League race - with Tonali the heart of the engine room.
Supporters are now realising why Newcastle stumped up a big-money fee that has only been bettered by Alexander Isak’s club-record price tag. However, that has not stopped Italian media from instigating trouble.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported in December that Tonali is unhappy at St James’ Park and dreams about a Milan return. Prominent reporter Gianluca Di Marzio also claimed last month that the midfielder could move to Manchester City or Real Madrid.
These suggestions were rubbished by Newcastle and now have now been slammed. Tonali’s agent, Beppe Riso, told Fabrizio Romano: “Sandro is one of the best midfielders in the world. He now has a value that Italian clubs would struggle to be able to afford. I imagine a career for him far from Serie A.”