Sandro Tonali’s future at Newcastle United remains uncertain following a season of speculation at St James’ Park.
Italian football legend Marco Materazzi has urged Sandro Tonali to stick by Newcastle United.
Speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future has dominated the news agenda on Tyneside all season. As revealed by our sister title, The Gazette, on Thursday, Tonali’s camp believe he has a “gentleman’s agreement” to leave the Magpies provided they do not secure European qualification.
His agent, Beppe Riso, has publicly teased a potential exit several times in recent months. For now, Tonali’s focus is solely on Newcastle’s final seven games of the campaign and getting Italy to the World Cup.
Italy legend speaks out
Former Inter Milan defender Materazzi - who won the World Cup in 2006 - has told Tonali to show loyalty to Newcastle. The 52-year-old has referenced the club and supporters “believing in him” - a reference to his 10-month gambling ban.
“Sandro Tonali can play in any team in Italy and England but he has to decide if he wants to stay at Newcastle United because they believed in him,” Materazzi told Goal. “The city and the fans and the club believed in him and stuck by him.
“He has to think about that too, not just whether he could play for Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United. I would like him to stay at Newcastle and build his legacy.”
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, Riso, has also gone rogue on multiple occasions 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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