Sandro Tonali’s agent confirms major Newcastle United selection news v Crystal Palace

Giuseppe Riso, the agent of Sandro Tonali, has announced the midfielder is being supported by Newcastle United as he battles a gambling addiction.

The Italian, along with Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo, was sent home from international duty last week following a probe by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office.

In a statement released by the Italian Federation on Thursday, it was noted that two players were not “in the necessary condition” to play in the scheduled Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England.

It read: “The Federation announces that, in the late afternoon of today, the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office notified investigation documents to the players Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo, currently in training with the national team at the Federal Technical Center in Coverciano.

“Regardless of the nature of the acts, believing that in this situation the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the commitments scheduled in the next few days, the Federation has decided, also to protect them, to allow them to return to their respective clubs.”

After returning to England over the weekend, Tonali resumed training with Newcastle on Monday and his agent has today confirmed the 23-year-old is available to face Palace.

Riso also publicly announced that Tonali has a gambling addiction as they await more information from the meeting with the Italian authorities.

“Sandro suffers of gambling addiction,” said Riso, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, at an Italian Embassy event in London. “He’s fighting to avoid that and I’m sure he will win this difficult game”

“He’s sad, still in shock”. “I’d like to thank Newcastle as they’re supporting Sandro. He’s training, he could feature on Saturday.

“I hope this gambling addiction issue will help to save Sandro’s life as well as many other young guys affected by same problem.

“Sandro understood that he has to focus on this issue and face gambling addiction with strong, determined approach.”

Newcastle are yet to make an official comment. Head coach Eddie Howe will face the media on Friday ahead of the Palace game.