Some big and slightly worrying claims have arrived from Italy today surrounding Sandro Tonali and his future at Newcastle United.
The midfielder completed a £55m move from AC Milan last summer, but a breach of gambling rules saw him banned for the majority of the 2023/24 season before he returned to competitive action in August.
Fast forward a few months and today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport reports that he’s not happy on Tyneside and exploring a return to Serie A…
Tonali eyeing Toon exit?
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According to [Gazzetta dello Sport](https://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/11-12-2024/tonali-milan-ritorno-possibile-e-rottura-a-newcastle-il-nodo-prestito-e-le-altre-piste.shtml?refresh_ce) and their senior reporter Carlo Laudisa – a journalist at the famous Italian paper for almost 40 years – Sandro Tonali is already eyeing a return to Italy.
He stats that ‘something is broken’ between Tonali and Newcastle, referring to his lack of game time that has seen the 24-year-old start only six of our 13 Premier League games so far this season.
Laudisa states that Tonali ‘would like to return to Italy’ and would love to rejoin boyhood club AC Milan, while Juventus and Inter Milan are mentioned as potential options. However, the ‘big issue’ would be his wages, with Serie A clubs unlikely to match the money he currently receives on Tyneside.
Loan claims laughable
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It is a concern to see a reputable Italian outlet report that Tonali is unsettled, but a part of Gazzetta’s piece that just doesn’t add up is claims around a potential loan exit.
Because Serie A clubs would not be able to match his current wages, they suggest a loan move and plenty of ‘goodwill’ on Newcastle’s side would be needed to facilitate Tonali’s return.
With all due respect, there isn’t a chance Newcastle allow such a move when you consider he is our second most expensive signing ever, not to mention the fact we spent 10 months without him shortly after his £55m move from Milan.
Tonali’s career at Newcastle is yet to really get going and it’s fair to say he owes us one given the return we’ve received for the fee paid. But, it does work both ways and Howe must find a consistent role for him in the side, with fans baffled to see the midfielder ‘rested’ at Brentford after such a brilliant display in last week’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
Hopefully these potentially unsettling reports from Italy are not true and the Italian is happy and committed to making a success of his time on Tyneside.