Newcastle United 2-0 Athletic Club: Joe Buck reaction
Sandro Tonali has added more fuel to the speculation surrounding his future at Newcastle United this week.
Sandro Tonali played down his contract extension at Newcastle United and wouldn’t rule out a potential exit from the club in a bombshell interview this week.
Tonali was named player of the match in Newcastle’s 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Club at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening. After the match, he spoke to reporters in the mixed zone, where he was asked about his contract and future at the club.
But the Italian midfielder admitted he was confused over the fuss surrounding his contract extension, which was agreed back during the 2023/24 season when he was serving a 10-month betting ban.
Sandro Tonali makes Newcastle United contract admission
Last month, it was revealed that Tonali is effectively under contract at Newcastle until 2030 rather than 2028 following a contract extension with an option of a further year.
“This extension was three [seasons] ago after the ban,” Tonali said. “I don't know why everybody spoke about this.
“I signed after the ban for another year and I'm happy, not just for one more year here, but I'm happy for the people, for the fans, for every player, every member of the staff here in Newcastle.
“Every day, I work to win every game. I work for every person in Newcastle.”
The extension effectively covers the season Tonali missed due to his betting ban, meaning a new contract for the midfielder is still something new sporting director Ross Wilson will be assessing.
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Sandro Tonali doesn’t rule out NUFC exit
While Tonali is a fan favourite and hailed as one of Newcastle’s most important players, he has never been too far away from transfer speculation since his £52million move from AC Milan back in 2023.
And when asked directly about his future at Newcastle, Tonali said: “This is a tough question because in football you need to think year on year.
“I don’t want to say ‘I want to stay here 10 years’ and in two years, three years, four years, five years I will go. I want to think, just for me, year on year.
“This is football. Last summer was tough for us, for Alex [Isak], but this is football.
“If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything. I don’t want to say, ‘Yes, I want to stay here for 10 years’ but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
Tonali’s response came across as brutally honest if nothing else, players simply don’t know what is around the corner in their careers. The £130million transfer of Alexander Isak to Liverpool has left its mark on Newcastle and its players and Tonali’s comments will have done little to calm any nerves from supporters worried about the Italian’s long-term future.
Either way, Newcastle are in a strong position in that Tonali is contracted until 2029 (with an option to extend to 2030) and, even if he were to leave, they would benefit financially as it would come at a significant cost.
Italy return ruled out for Sandro Tonali - for now
Italian outlet Corriere Della Sera claimed Tonali is keen to return to Milan following his comments earlier in the week, but that doesn’t quite reflect the reality of the situation.
While Tonali himself admitted a return to Italy is ‘possible’ when speaking to Vivo Azzurro last month, ultimately his price has inflated beyond what Serie A teams can afford.
"You can never know what will happen, I tell everyone it's possible,” Tonali said about a return to Italy.
"I'm not closing the door on Italy; it's my country. Maybe not now because I've found my balance at Newcastle, but the league is getting better and better, the level of the teams is rising."
A report from Tuttomercato earlier this year claimed a deal for Tonali would cost around €150million (£132million), pricing Serie A giants Juventus out of a potential move.
Last month, Tonali was spotted meeting with his agent, Beppe Riso in Milan amid the speculation surrounding his future. But Riso has already made his stance clear by claiming Tonali’s next move would likely be away from Italy.
He said: “Sandro is one of the best midfielders in the world. He now has a value that Italian clubs will find difficult to afford. I envision a career for him away from Serie A.
He added: “Sandro is absolutely not considering returning to Serie A.
“He’s happy at Newcastle, happy to play in the best league in the world and he’s an idol for Newcastle United fans who’ve always supported Sandro in every moment.”
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