Sandro Tonali is loving life at Newcastle United, almost one year on from returning from his 10-month betting ban.
The Italian joined the Magpies from boyhood club AC Milan for £55million in the summer of 2023 but made just eight appearances before being hit with a 10-month global betting ban.
And it is the support he received from Eddie Howe, his coaches, teammates and supporters during that time that has left the midfielder forever indebted to Newcastle. Tonali has already repaid some of the love with an outstanding campaign last time out.
The 25-year-old returned from his prolonged spell out at the end of August, though it wasn’t until December that he really made his presence felt. A switch to the number six role helped transform United’s season after an indifferent start.
Between December and January, United won nine games in a row, propelling themselves into the Champions League race as well as reaching the final of the Carabao Cup with a two-legged semi-final victory over Arsenal.
Sandro Tonali reflects on Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup win
As it happens, United won the competition - in turn ending their 70-year domestic trophy drought - after beating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley before finishing fifth in the Premier League table to secure a return to Europe’s elite.
Reflecting on the cup win, Tonali told Sky Sports Italia: “It was beautiful because it was hard. 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.”
Sandro Tonali addresses his Newcastle United future
The Italian media have been relentless in linking Tonali with a return to Serie A while there have been suggestions Real Madrid are monitoring the midfielder. But Tonali has pledged his immediate future to Newcastle.
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“I’m happy where I am now. 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,” Tonali added. “I’ve had a lot of thoughts every day, but right now, I’m happy where I am.”
Eddie Howe responds to Sandro Tonali transfer links
Newcastle have no intention of losing their top players this summer. That was made clear by chief executive Darren Eales in March when discussing the future of Alexander Isak, while earlier this year Howe shut down talk of Tonali leaving when asked directly about the transfer links to AC Milan.
"That one is news to me,” Howe said. “It is not something I am contemplating. I am trying to build Sandro into the team after his ban. He has performed really well the last few games. I have been really pleased with how he is finding his feet in the team.
"He is building new relationships. It is not just the player coming into the team it is also the players around Sandro and how those relationships start to form. I have been pleased how they have."
Howe has also said previously: “I hope [we can keep him], I've got no plans of losing Sandro. I laugh because that [question] seems so out of the blue for me. Sandro is a vital part of what we're doing and our investment in him was long-term.”
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