Sandro Tonali put in a match-winning performance as Italy booked a World Cup play-off final spot.
Sandro Tonali bagged a goal and an assist against Northern Ireland to fire Italy into a World Cup play-off final.
Gli Azzurri - who have not qualified for football’s biggest competition since 2014 - will not face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday in an ultimate showdown on Tuesday. Tonali broke the deadlock on 56 minutes with a perfectly timed half-volley from outside the box.
The midfielder turned provider on 80 minutes with a lofted pass that found former Everton striker Moise Kean. Questions quickly arose on social media about Tonali’s fitness after he missed the Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland last weekend.
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Sandro Tonali responds to transfer bombshell
In Tonali’s mind, he issued the perfect response after another transfer bombshell dropped yesterday. The Gazette exclusively revealed that the 25-year-old and his representatives believe they have a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with the club.
Should Newcastle United fail to qualify for Europe next season, his team understand that the club will consider offers for the player. Eddie Howe’s side currently sit 12th in the Premier League with seven games remaining.
From the club’s perspective, no such agreement is in place, as was briefed to the media following The Gazette’s story. Tonali put the transfer speculation behind him with a match-winning performance for his country.
What Sandro Tonali said in November
Rewind to November, when Tonali first cast doubt over his Newcastle future following the Champions League win over Athletic Bilbao. He said: “In football, you need to think year on year.
“I don’t want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years, five years I will go. I want to think, just for me, year on year. This is football. The last summer was tough for us, for Alex (Isak), but this is football.
“If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything. I don’t want to say ‘Yes, I want to stay here 10 years’ but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
Sandro Tonali agent goes rogue
His agent, Beppe Riso, has also gone rogue several times to suggest Tonali will “very likely” join Arsenal or Manchester City. He told Italian media: “Newcastle are already a Champions League club, but now it’s said that Tonali is being targeted by top clubs, those aiming to win the Premier League, such as Arsenal or Manchester City.
“That was the aim from the moment he went to England - to try and turn him into a star player. I think he’s the Italian player with one of the highest values in the world. “I don’t know (whether he will join Man City or Arsenal). But it’s very likely. Everyone is waiting for the World Cup; then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but it all kicks off after the World Cup.”
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