Manchester United chiefs will have loved what they heard from transfer target Sandro Tonali after his latest Newcastle United performance.
Ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window, where Manchester United are expected to overhaul their midfield, there have been links to Sandro Tonali emerging.
Ever since United’s interest was made public, Tonali has been performing well for Newcastle, and he continued his strong run of form in their 3-2 win over Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
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Despite being 6-1 up on aggregate, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe played a strong side and Tonali put in an extremely professional performance, scoring the opener after just four minutes.
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali facing Qarabag in the Champions League.
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Tonali’s strengths make him a perfect Kobbie Mainoo partner, and his latest comments from the Qarabag win prove he has the mentality to make the step up to Old Trafford.
Speaking after the 3-2 victory, Tonali said: “It was a very great game for the first 10 minutes.
“I’m not very happy with the second half because we played just with the result because we scored nine goals.
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“But we had to do more because these fans deserve 100 per cent for 90 minutes every game.”
Newcastle ended up winning their play-off tie 9-3 on aggregate, but Tonali was frustrated that his teammates took their foot off the gas and allowed Qarabag to score twice in the second half.
That is the exact kind of mentality that is needed to thrive at Old Trafford. While many signings have shrunk and flopped under the spotlight of playing for United, Tonali’s comments show he has outgrown Newcastle and is ready to make a move to Manchester.
Sandro Tonali can have same Bryan Mbeumo impact at Man Utd
When United were completing the signing of Bryan Mbeumo in the summer, the Red Devils were told by a former coach that Mbeumo will raise standards at Old Trafford because of his extreme professionalism.
That turned out to be true as Mbeumo’s work rate at Carrington has been exemplary and his teammates often speak highly of him and his behaviour around the club.
Rio Ferdinand raved about Mbeumo’s professionalism in the summer, and so it is no surprise that the 25-year-old has hit the ground running in Manchester.
READ MORE: Sandro Tonali’s 33.24km/h pace tops Champions League charts and gives him advantage over Elliot Anderson
Tonali clearly has a similar mindset in terms of remaining strictly professional and wanting to stay consistent in his performance regardless of the result.
These are the kind of players that United need and Ineos should be all over the chance to sign the Italian midfielder this summer.
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