(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali has shut down any lingering transfer speculation this summer with a stunning message.
The Italian midfielder has been constantly linked with a move back to Serie A, in particular to Juventus who are understood to be keen on signing the playmaker but can't afford him even if United were interested in selling.
Tonali and his representatives have been consistent in their messaging that he is happy on Tyneside and wants to repay the club for the support they showed him during his 10 month ban from football for gambling offences. Tonali was forced to stop playing only a couple of months after joining Newcastle in a £55m move from AC Milan.
Newcastle themselves have no intention of cashing in on the player. Tonali's emergence in the No 6 role as part of a new tactical structure brought about by manager Eddie Howe helped the club into the Champions League.
The midfielder's superb form attracted more attention from abroad, with Real Madrid and Barcelona also understood to be monitoring the player, but speaking while on international duty with Italy, Tonali confirmed his commitment to the club with an emotional message.
“I’m happy where I am now," he told Sky Sports Italia. "I’ve found people who care about me, and I care about them. I don’t want to break any of the bonds I’ve built.
“I’ve had a lot of thoughts every day, but right now, I’m happy where I am.”
Tonali is preparing for Italy’s World Cup qualifying match against Norway on June 6 and admitted he sometimes misses the Italian atmosphere when he’s away.
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“Sometimes, when I am away from Italy for a long time or during long breaks, I do miss coming home a bit, but I always come back with the national team and I always give my best,” Tonali added.
“There’s a group here that wants to be together and needs to be here, united. There’s a desire to face these ten days as a real team, staying close and trying not to make things harder for ourselves. That’s often where the teams struggle, and we’re trying to keep things simple.”
A strong performance in Oslo would cap an incredible season for the 25-year-old, who also opened up on lifting the Carabao Cup with Newcastle, defeating Liverpool in the final after a stunning run to get to Wembley.
“It was beautiful because it was hard,” said Tonali.
“We weren’t the favourites, and we never really have been. We beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. We weren’t the favourites in almost every match, but it was special also because when an unexpected team wins, all eyes turn to them.
"It was amazing to do it with a team that hadn’t done it in 70 years, with incredible fans.”