Newcastle United have released a behind-the-scenes style video of Sandro Tonali – and it’s well worth a watch if you haven’t already.
The footage looks at his life away from the football pitch and how he and his fiancé have settled in the North East since their move from Milan nearly two years ago.
Despite being banned from football for 10 months in his debut season in black and white, the Italian has shown incredible drive and resilience to not only return to the team but to step his game up a level and use his situation to push him on.
There’s a fair argument to suggest that Tonali has been our player of the season and from the footage we have from the club, it’s very clear to see that he’s enjoying his time off the pitch as week as on it which will be a huge contributing factor to his upturn in form.
Tonali now enjoys a quiet life with his fiancé Giulia and their French Bulldog Margot, but it was a tough first couple of months in which he was alone and having to get used to whole new people and surroundings.
In the video (watch it in full below), Tonali opens up about his time on Tyneside so far, shares just how much he’s appreciated the people of Newcastle, picks out his closest teammates and his switch from a No 8 to a No 6 this season.
We also get an insight into Tonali’s day-to-day routines, seeing him at the club’s training ground, interacting with staff and players, along with part of his home life with his fiancé and dog; who is well and truly part of the family.
Tonali’s jokes that it may take him another ‘four or five years’ to understand the Geordie accent, but hopefully that’s a sign he is staying on Tyneside for many more years yet!
On and off the pitch, Sandro has been a revelation this season and it’s credit to him and the club how he has bounced back from such a tough period.