Eddie Howe answers big question NUFC fans were asking
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has named his ‘Ultimate 11’, which includes three of his current teammates.
Sandro Tonali has established himself as one of Newcastle United’s most influential players over the past 12 months, playing a key role in the Carabao Cup win and Champions League qualification in 2025.
Since his £52million move from AC Milan in 2023, it’s been an eventful time on Tyneside for the Italian. Tonali was initially hit with a 10-month betting ban that cut his first season in England short after just 12 games.
But after returning from his ban and getting a consistent run of matches at Newcastle, Tonali is now a firm fan favourite on Tyneside.
Sandro Tonali names Newcastle United trio in ‘Ultimate 11’
When asked to name the best players he has played with in each position to form an ‘Ultimate 11’, Tonali named three Newcastle players in his line-up.
There were probably not too many surprises to see his midfield partner Bruno Guimaraes named in midfield. Kieran Trippier pipped Tino Livramento to be named as Tonali’s ‘Ultimate 11’ right-back.
And on the right wing, there was a slightly surprising but ultimately obvious choice as Tonali named Jacob Murphy in his side. Murphy has been effective as Newcastle’s right winger, particularly since Tonali cemented his place in Newcastle’s starting line-up.
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Murphy contributed nine goals and 14 assists for Newcastle in all competitions last season. Only Alexander Isak, with 27 goals and six assists, had more goal involvements for The Magpies last season.
But Isak has since left Newcastle to join Liverpool for £130million. Although Tonali previously described Isak as ‘the best striker in the world’ when he was still at Newcastle, he refrained from naming him in his 11.
Instead, Tonali opted to name Murphy and include only one striker in his side.
He went for another Swedish striker whom he played alongside at AC Milan. Ibrahimovic ended his career at AC Milan and didn’t have as prolific a scoring record as Isak when playing with Tonali, but is still viewed as one of the icons of world football given his career as a whole.
Tonali named former AC Milan and current Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Next to Trippier in defence, he named his former Milan teammates Simon Kjaer and Theo Hernandez along with Inter Milan and Italy centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.
In midfield, he didn’t name himself but instead listed former Newcastle transfer target Nicolo Barella of Inter and Italy along with his former Milan teammate Franck Kessie and Guimaraes. On the left wing, he named AC Milan forward Raphael Leao.
Sandro Tonali on NUFC
Tonali has been a much discussed player at Newcastle in recent weeks after news of a secret contract extension was leaked in the media.
The Italian then refused to rule out a potential exit from Newcastle in the future.
He 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.”
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