Sandro Tonali had a miraculous recovery from injury to start for Italy in a comfortable 2-0 win against Northern Ireland, and he was the star of the show.
Last weekend, Sandro Tonali missed the Tyne-Wear derby through injury, which Newcastle lost. But on Thursday, he was fully fit to play and shine for Italy.
With Tonali heavily linked with joining Manchester United this summer, his international performances are of particular interest, and his latest was very impactful.
Tonali was the man of the match for Italy against Northern Ireland, securing his nation a spot in the World Cup play-offs final against Bosnia. In the performance, Tonali proved why he can replace Casemiro’s impact.
Sandro Tonali shoots for Italy.
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Sandro Tonali proves game-winner for Italy vs Northern Ireland
Tonali’s performance was far from his best level; however, ultimately, he stepped up when it mattered for his team.
The 25-year-old scored the opening goal for Italy, with a brilliant finish after latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the area.
Not content with just scoring, Tonali played a pass in behind to Moise Kean, which was either the assist of the season or a complete fluke. Lofting it with one touch over the defence with pinpoint accuracy.
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This performance, while concerning for some reasons, did show that Tonali can, in a way, replace the goals from midfield that United will miss when Casemiro’s exit becomes reality.
Tonali has the box-crashing ability, which is hard to teach, as he arrives at the perfect time to finish through a crowd, something he has also shown for Newcastle.
It might not be in the form of set-pieces, but with Tonali, United’s midfield will score goals, helping out the attack.
Where concerns arise is Tonali’s passing accuracy, as he has a tendency to be sloppy at times or force passes that aren’t on.
But in terms of stepping up and impacting the game with goals and even assists from midfield, Tonali has proven he can take on that mantle.
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Manchester United must have Sandro Tonali wrapped up before the World Cup
Tonali and Italy are now just one win away from ending their 12-year absence from the World Cup.
If the Azzurri qualify, Tonali will be their main man, and for that reason, his stocks could end up going through the roof if he plays well on the world stage.
So if United are really intent on signing him, then a deal shouldn’t wait until after the competition, and should be pursued the moment the season ends.
Luckily, reports suggest United are already planning a Tonali approach for when the 2025/26 season ends, and a deal should really resemble the Matheus Cunha swoop, confirming it on the opening of the window.
Tonali looks like United’s main target right now, with Bruno Fernandes endorsing the signing, which is a big statement toward the move going ahead, given the sway he holds.
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