SANDRO TONALI - NEWCASTLE UNITED

The young Italian midfielder is in advanced talks with the Magpies as Newcastle bolster their squad for the upcoming return to the Champions League. Sandro Tonali has been integral to Milan this season, both domestically and in the Champions League. Join us as we discuss what he brings to the table and going forward for Newcastle with this statement signing.

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Table of Contents

Sandro Tonali – Season 2022/23

Tonali joined Milan from Brescia for a combined €20M fee; the transfer was a loan (€5M) in the season 2020/21 and was made permanent (€15) the following year. The loan spell was good enough to convince the board of directors, but fans were yet to be convinced that he is the man to provide that authoritative figure in the midfield. Another aspect for Sandro Tonali that really helped him push through and move up the ranks is that he is a Milan supporter, and it was his dream move. Last season, winning the Scudetto with Milan has been magical for all of Milan, but especially for Tonali. This year, he has led his team to a Champions League semi-final and was instrumental in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham in England.

Let’s take a closer look at the statistics and the numbers that Sandro Tonali racked up during this season.

Season 2022/23:

Serie A → 34 games played, scored two and assisted seven. He also received seven yellow cards.

Champions League → 12 games played, scored none and assisted three, whilst he received three yellow cards.

Season 2021/22:

Serie A → 36 games played, scored five and assisted three. He received nine yellow cards.

Champions League → Played six games without registering a goal or assist.

Season 2020/21:

Serie A → 25 games played without registering a goal or an assist. One yellow card and got sent off once as well.

What are Newcastle getting in return?

Apart from the stats that are already impressive for a 23-year-old, he is well-experienced in a title race and in the Champions League, something that will play a huge role for Newcastle. The price tag is rumoured to be around £70M plus add-ons, which is a fee that Milan cannot say no to, and the reported salary offered is more than triple what he is earning at the moment. It’s an offer that any party would be happy with if the deal goes through, Milan are going to get a decent chunk of money, and Newcastle are getting a world-class talent.

Eddie Howe is yet to spend big since the takeover, now it seems like the tide is changing, investments need to be done in order to have a successful campaign in the Champions League and most importantly cement their position in the top four.

The signing of Bruno Guimaires was outstanding, a player that has elevated them to new standards and now pairing him with Tonali would just be insane. They would have that midfield airlocked, Tonali brings aggression, great tackling and passion to a midfield that is already boiling with enthusiasm and to get on the front foot.

In the stats section, there is no metric to calculate how much a player loves his team and gives his all, apart from the distance but that is subjective from one to another. Newcastle will be getting a hard-working individual that has the ability to push the team up through his pinpoint passes behind the defence when needed.

There will be some time to get to used to the English culture; mind you, he is Italian and generally people from Italy aren’t keen on the food or the weather in England. The language should not be any issue as he is still young but in the beginning it will be tricky to see him replicate the same dynamic as he did with Milan.