When Sandro Tonali first arrived at Newcastle United back in 2023, I’m sure not even the player himself could have imagined just how beloved he would come to be in the eyes of the Toon faithful.
Even after his 10 month ban from the sport so soon after signing, Tonali’s performances have earned him rave reviews, and he was instrumental in both our Carabao Cup success (in particular the quarter-final win over Brentford) and eventual re-qualification for the Champions League last season.
The midfield Maestro from Milan is a part of the club’s history, and will no doubt be a key player for us moving forward. He was even considered an outside favourite to be named one of the club’s new vice-captains.
But this hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from spinning and linking him with a move back to his homeland, something which Tonali has addressed for the first time in a new comment.
Whilst on international duty this week, Sandro Tonali was asked about where he sees himself in the future, and the 25-year-old has kept his cards close to his chest.
For months, the Italian media has linked Tonali with a potential transfer to Juventus, where the Serie A giants have reportedly been prepared to offer the likes of Douglas Luiz, Nicolo Savona, and a hefty sum to bring Tonali to Turin.
However, Tonali suggests that he is in no rush to leave Newcastle, even if he is refusing to rule out a return to Italy in the years ahead:
“My future? You never know what will happen.
“I tell everyone that it is possible (to return to play in Italy). I don’t close the door to Italy, it’s my country.
“Maybe not now, because i have found stability at Newcastle but Serie A is getting better, the quality of the teams is getting stronger.”
Where Tonali may not be as vocal for his love and devotion to Newcastle United as say Joelinton or Bruno Guimaraes, his comments here shouldn’t be any cause for concern.
His current contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2028, and there have been quiet rumours that the club will look to enter contract negotiations over an extension in the near future, locking down key players like him and Sven Botman for the rest of the 2020s.
There’s also the fact that the Serie A, as competitive as it is right now, cannot match the Premier League financially. It would likely take a tremendous fire sale from a team like Juventus, or more likely Tonali’s boyhood club AC Milan, to even tempt us to sell the star.
Tonali’s devotion to AC Milan also cannot be understated. Unlike previous Italian legends like Roberto Baggio and Andrea Pirlo, Tonali as an individual has always come across as a player solely committed to one club in Italy, like a Paolo Maldini or Francesco Totti-type.
If he was to ever push for a sale back to his native country, the Rossoneri feels like a safe pick as his preferred destination.
