Three Newcastle United players have made it into Sandro Tonali’s Ultimate XI, based on players he has played alongside over the course of his career.
Tonali is arguably Newcastle United’s best player following the sale of Alexander Isak.
In a chaotic season for the club, the Italian midfielder has remained one almost constant in terms of his form.
The Newcastle United squad love playing with Tonali and for good reason. With a difficult start to his career at the club now behind him, the 25-year-old has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Prior to joining Eddie Howe‘s side, of course, Tonali was playing for a genuine European giant in the form of AC Milan. Still, such is the level of quality at Newcastle right now, three of his current teammates make it into his Ultimate XI.
Sandro Tonali and Zlatan Ibrahimovic look dejected after AC Milan's Serie A game against Salernitana.
Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images
Jacob Murphy, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes included in Sandro Tonali’s Ultimate XI
Asked to build his dream XI based on the players he has shared a dressing room with by Pro Direct Soccer, Tonali included all of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Murphy.
They are the only Toon players in his side, with the rest made of his former teammates at Milan as well as some of his fellow Italian internationals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes an appearance following their time at Milan together, which is not particularly surprising.
Sandro Tonali’s Ultimate XI in full: Donnarumma; Trippier, Kjaer, Bastoni, Theo Hernandez; Barella, Kessie, Guimaraes; Murphy, Ibrahimovic, Leao
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The brilliant players who missed out on Sandro Tonali’s Ultimate XI
Obviously, Tonali has played with some of the biggest names in Europe.
Notable absences include the likes of Isak, Oliver Giroud, Riccardo Calafiori, Manuel Locatelli, Leonardo Bonucci, Jorginho, Federico Chiesa, Marco Verratti and Brahim Diaz.
Newcastle United midfielder's Sandro Tonali's Ultimate XI.
Newcastle United midfielder’s Sandro Tonali’s Ultimate XI. Credit: GRV Media
It’s brilliant to see so many Newcastle players included in his list. It sums up the quality in Howe’s current squad, although that grates somewhat given Newcastle’s current crisis of form.
Tonali loves playing for Newcastle and, hopefully, gets to operate alongside the aforementioned trio for many years to come.