Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali helped ensure that Luciano Spalletti’s tenure as Italy manager ended with victory.
They beat Moldova 2-0 on Monday night, one day after Spalletti announced that he was going to be sacked.
He signed off with victory thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiasso.
Spalletti once again relied heavily on Sandro Tonali, with the Newcastle United star playing the full 90 minutes yet again after an energy-sapping season at club level.
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Newcastle United ‘warrior’ Sandro Tonali told he looks tired
The 25-year-old also played the full game against Norway on Friday night, with Tonali receiving criticism after the 3-0 defeat.
This time Tonali was on the winning side, but was still unable to endear himself to the Italian media.
Sky Italia gave him a rating of five out of 10, describing Tonali as ‘worn out’.
On Tonali, they wrote: “Even warriors get tired. And Tonali, who had revitalized the national team since his return to the national team after the disqualification, is experiencing his period of apnoea. He remains generous, but with smudges that, in the best physical condition, he has never shown. Worn out.”
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Elsewhere, Sportmediaset and Stadio News both gave Tonali a slightly higher rating of six out of 10.
How many minutes Sandro Tonali played for Newcastle United this season
Given the amount of football that Tonali has played this season, it is no surprise that the ‘warrior’ is suddenly showing signs of tiredness.
Since returning to the Italian national side, he has started every game possible. Tonali has started 10 games in a row for his country, playing the full 90 minutes in all but two of those games.
At club level, it has been a similar theme. On 30th November 2024, Tonali came into Eddie Howe’s starting XI for a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. Since that day, the £55million man has only been named as a Newcastle United substitute on four occasions.
Tonali has become a consistent starter for Howe, patrolling the midfield as the Magpies’ number six. He has rarely been taken off during this run, being substituted just three times.
In total this season, Tonali has made 55 appearances for club and country, playing the full 90 minutes in 35 of those games. That even includes playing 120 minutes against Brighton in the FA Cup!
The midfield maestro has played so much football and covered so much ground that it is no wonder he is now ‘worn out’.
Thankfully, the win over Moldova draws Tonali’s 2024/25 season to a close. It has been a remarkable and emotional campaign, with the season beginning when he was still suspended for breaching betting rules.
But Tonali is back and available, and has very much made up for lost time. He has become a key player for Italy once again, while he is arguably the most important cog in the Newcastle United machine.
From winning the Carabao Cup to qualifying for the Champions League, the Magpies would not have been able to do it without Tonali.
He thoroughly deserves this rest before Howe’s players reconvene for pre-season.