‘Should be ashamed’ - Sandro Tonali set harsh ‘pay back’ challenge at Newcastle United
Sandro Tonali has been eased back into Newcastle United life by Eddie Howe
Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believes Sandro Tonali let Newcastle United down - and is “under pressure” to repay their faith.
Toon chiefs broke the bank to bring the Italian international from AC Milan last summer. The £55million fee remains the second-highest figure Newcastle have spent on a player - behind only Alexander Isak.
Just 12 games into his United career, Tonali was slapped with a 10-month ban by Italian authorities for breaching betting regulations. He returned last month at Nottingham Forest and has enjoyed cameos against Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers since.
However, it was for Italy on the recent international break that gave Newcastle fans a glimpse of Tonali’s talents. The 24-year-old shone in games with France and Israel to intensify the clamour about his Toon return.
Fans are now calling on Eddie Howe to unleash Tonali when the Magpies face Fulham this weekend. Speaking to Top Offshore Sports Books, former Gunners midfielder Petit hit out at the midfielder - insisting he “should be ashamed” about his ban and use it as fuel to impress on Tyneside.
“Sandro Tonali doesn’t have a choice,” he said. “He needs to start delivering on the pitch and he needs to put in good performances after his ban from playing football, for breaking the rules.
“It’s time for Tonali to pay back his country, pay back his club, Newcastle, and pay back the fans. He needs to repay the faith of his teammates as well. This is non-negotiable and is the only way he can move forward.
“When Tonali looks at himself in the mirror, he should feel ashamed about what he did. He knows that it was wrong. He’s an intelligent player and person, and the only way he can find his redemption is by delivering on the football pitch. Newcastle have been amazing with him.
“The club and the manager have stuck by him, they’ve shown so much faith in him, now he needs to return it (the faith) on the grass. He will be under pressure, of course, because everyone is looking at him. He shouldn’t need any extra motivation to showcase his talent as a footballer.”