The Newcastle United midfielder has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United(Image: Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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Sandro Tonali should only join Manchester United in the summer if he is playing alongside Red Devils midfielder Casemiro - but needs to think about his Newcastle United legacy.
That is the verdict of former Inter Milan defender and World Cup winner Marco Materazzi, who previously urged Tonali to stay loyal to the Magpies amid talk of a transfer exit this summer.
Tonali has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League during his three years on Tyneside and repaid the faith the club showed in him after he was hit with a 10-month ban for breaking football betting rules a matter of months after his £55million move from AC Milan in 2023.
But there was doubt cast over his future at St James' Park on deadline day during the January transfer window when it emerged Arsenal were exploring a potential move for the Italy international.
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Since then, Tonali's agent has routinely talked about the possibility of his client taking the next step and Manchester United, as well as Manchester City, are said to have joined the Gunners in monitoring the 25-year-old's availability.
"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."
Nonetheless, the speculation is likely to ramp up over the next couple of months. Both Manchester clubs are in the market for a midfielder, and are being linked with similar targets, though reports suggest City are confident of winning the race for Elliot Anderson, which would mean Man Utd having to look elsewhere.
Tonali is understood to be at the top of their wishlist and there have been claims they have already been in contact with his representatives, although Newcastle have played down claims of a gentleman's agreement. Materazzi, however, feels a move to Old Trafford would only be a good move if he was playing alongside former Real Madrid star Casemiro in Manchester United's midfield.
"Would Manchester United be a good move for Sandro Tonali? I would only like to see him if he can play next to Casemiro next season," Materazzi told Chronicle Live, via Hajper.
"Casemiro now plays every game for United and he plays well. You never know. He could stay at United. Maybe if Michael Carrick stays and says that he wants to keep Casemiro he will stay?
"I think Tonali and Casemiro would be a very good partnership in midfield because they are both strong and technical players but one would be Brazilian, one would be Italian. It would be a good mix."
Casemiro is enjoying an Indian summer at Manchester United this season, with the 34-year-old playing all but two Premier League games this season that he missed through suspension.
Casemiro applauds
Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season(Image: Getty Images)
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But the Brazil international has already confirmed he will be leaving Old Trafford this summer, after coming to an agreement with the club to waive the trigger for an automatic one year extension at the end of his deal this season.
Speaking after fans chanted: 'One more year, one more year, Casemiro,' at him last month, he reaffirmed his decision by saying: "Honestly I feel so happy, especially for the affection from the fans, and the respect they have for me.
"So, it's just gratitude for this love, it is so exciting. I am hoping not to cry on my last day, as it is such a beautiful experience. My wife already cried, the other day, when the fans were asking for one more year.
"So, I just want to enjoy it, enjoy all the moments and I will be a United fan for the rest of my life."