Sandro Tonali helped Newcastle United locals quit gambling during 10-month ban
Sandro Tonali has revealed he visited a local factory to keep himself grounded during his 10-month Newcastle United suspension.
While on the visit, a worker in the factory opened up about how Tonali’s struggles helped him quit gambling for good. The Toon ace was infamously slapped with a lengthy ban for breaching betting regulations as an AC Milan player.
This shocking revelation came just 12 games into Tonali’s career at St James’ Park. Newcastle stumped up £55million to sign the midfielder in July 2023 - and his exile dealt a crushing blow to their 2023-24 campaign.
However, Tonali is now on the mend and playing a vital role in Newcastle’s domestic and European ambitions. Eddie Howe has reinvented the 24-year-old as the anchorman in midfield, allowing Bruno Guimaraes to play further forward.
Speaking about his time in the wilderness, Tonali admitted to visiting factory workers, an experience which gave him a sense of understanding. He told La Republicca: “In Newcastle, in a factory that produces covers for gas pipes in the ocean. I went there because gambling is very widespread in England.
“There were those who told me, several months after the disqualification, ‘I stopped betting because of what happened to you’. They had been compulsive gamblers for years. An Italian told me that an employee earns £2,000 a month but sometimes needs to work overtime to support his family. He throws too much money away on gambling.”
Tonali also opened up about how a key lifestyle change helped him overcome his addiction. He added: “I haven’t had it (my phone) for six months in the last year. Of course, I felt a sense of freedom, the sensation of being ok even without it.
“Before, I couldn’t go from room to room, today I take it when I leave the house and leave it when I come back. I only take it back if mum, dad or a family member calls me. In the first two months, I was detached from everyone, then returning to life, training every day without having the match.
“I realised that I was paying for what I had done. My teammates and coach have always kept me inside, as have the staff and management. The Newcastle fans and the opposing fans have never judged me. Here they respect everyone’s problems, they don’t push things too far and they try to help.”