Sandro Tonali will return to competitive action tomorrow following his 10-month betting ban from football. In that time, he has watched on from the sidelines, undertaken rehabilitation, and paid a large fine. But crucially he has trained every available day.
The club have supported their player with Eddie Howe admitting he was in for ‘a difficult journey’ just days after the ban was extended worldwide on 27 October 2023. The boss later spoke about Tonali’s performances behind closed doors and confirmed at the Burnley pre-match press conference in May (seven months after his ban started):
‘He’s (Sandro Tonali) conducted himself in a really positive way. I’ve seen the hunger [to return] there all through the time. He’s done a lot of work alone, individual work, fitness work, gym work, we’ve worked on his speed, and covered loads of aspects of his game to try and help him.’
Tonali made only 12 appearances before the ban and, admittedly, he had been in and out of the team, but personally, he had already shown enough to put him in the same bracket as Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. (More on that later)
So, consider this piece a refresher onthe now 24-year-old, 15-times-capped Italy international who will very much be, as the cliché goes, ‘like a new signing’ when he returns for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash at Nottingham Forest.
Brecia, Milan and Winning Titles
Sandro Tonali made his professional debut as a 17-year-old for Brescia in August 2017 and went on to make 88 appearances, scored six goals, and helped them win Serie B in his second season (2018/19). Such was his form; he was linked with a move to Liverpool in February 2019.
Instead, he eventually signed for AC Milan, initially on a €10million loan in September 2020 before the move was made permanent for €15million the following summer. 2020/21 was a struggle, Tonali playing just 25 games (zero goals & assists)
During 2021/22 however (his second season) Tonali dazzled (36 apps, five goals, three assists), eclipsing most midfielders in the league with his dynamism, astute tactical awareness and tough tackling driving the Rossoneri to their first Scudetto in 11 years – with his winner against Lazio starting a six out of six-winning run in the home stretch, that saw him dominate games from the number six or eight position. He also bagged a brace against Hellas Verona during this run.
Former England manager, Fabio Capello, said on Italian TV that Tonali would go on to establish himself in the Milan pantheon following his performances. The boyhood AC Milan fan had taken a pay cut to play for ‘his’ club, ‘the ultimate gesture of any footballer’, wrote Italian football writer Mina Rzouki in July 2023, and a transfer away was thought to be almost impossible to do. Especially with Milan’s run to the Champions League semi-finals the following season (2022/23).
Sandro olé olé olé
On the 3 July 2023 Newcastle United announced the signing of Tonali for a fee that was reported in Italy as €70million, making him the most expensive Italian footballer in history.
Mina Rzouki again commented that Newcastle had stunned Italy and purchased a player ‘in Tonali, who is a highly motivated and professional player who loves nothing more than winning back possession and supporting the team, whether that be offensively or defensively’ and a player who once told Corriere della Sera: ‘I know what I did to get to this [Milan] shirt, and I would never make the mistake of leaving.’
A comment that initially had a small section of the fanbase concerned (and drew spiteful comments from rival fans) after he was pictured unsmiling after being shown around United’s training facilities.
One month later, on the 12 August, he made his competitive debut against Villa and slammed home a volley from inside the 18-yard-box after just six minutes to send St. James’ Park rapturously barmy (I nearly dragged my brother down six rows of seats in the Gallowgate West Corner) banishing those initial unsmiling photos as he celebrated wildly.
Tonali then started three straight defeats including the 1-2 home defeat to Liverpool. However, whilst Sandro was on the pitch Newcastle controlled the match and were comfortably winning 1-0 against Liverpool’s ten men.
The Italian played 71 minutes, completing 28 passes, with 45 touches and one-shot creating action. He took on his man four times, beating them twice, producing one progressive carry, and he made two successful tackles.
His replacement, Sean Longstaff, produced zero progressive carries and didn’t take on or tackle his man once as Liverpool overran us in midfield, despite being a man light, and went on to win 1-2. Tonali’s removal that day cost Newcastle dearly.
However, it was his performance in the 4-1 dismantling of PSG that really showed his class and what we would miss once he was banned.
Où est Killian Mbappé?
Wednesday 4 October 2023 was the sort of matchday Newcastle signed Tonali for. The first Champions League home game in 20 years was always going to be special but what transpired that evening brought tears to many-a stoic eye across Tyneside.
Starting on the left-side of a midfield three, Tonali took time to settle, as did most of the team, with Ousmane Dembélé wasting a glorious chance in the 5th minute, dragging a right-footed volley wide of Nick Pope’s far post.
After quarter-of-an-hour Newcastle had settled and went 1-0 up through a delightful Miggy Almiron finish in the 17th minute. Tonali started to assert himself as United made PSG flounder with their pretty but ineffectual passing moves snuffed out through Bruno and Tonali’s high-press and Longstaff’s dropping off and holding shape where required.
Tonali, in concert with Dan Burn, then blocked off three PSG players from a corner in the 24th minute allowing Fabian Schar to drag a shot just wide. The Italian showing excellent awareness with his part in the blocking move.
It was Tonali’s next involvement, however, that further highlighted his sharpness and physical attributes when, in the 39th minute, Trippier delivered a freekick which Lascelles met, forcing Donnarumma to claw the ball out to Bruno on the left-side of the six-yard box. Bruno shot drawing another save from the goalkeeper. Tonali sprung into action, with a little outside of the right boot pass back to Bruno, he then used his strength to hold off the PSG defender allowing Bruno to float a delightful cross onto the head of Dan Burn who put Newcastle 2-0 up.
Tonali came off in the 64th minute, by which time Newcastle were 3-1 up through Longstaff, and finished his 64 minutes with: 21 passes, 25 touches, 1 key pass, 1 progressive pass, 1 block, 2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 18 carries for 55 progressive yards. Showing why he is often compared to Gennaro Gattuso (and not Andrea Pirlo).
And for those who don’t like stats – he passed the vibe test, with nods of approval and a hearty handshake from the coaching staff and Eddie Howe, as well as the crowd at large.
Sandro’s second coming
Fans should be incredibly excited to welcome the Italian back into the first team picture. All indications from Eddie Howe have been positive with Tonali impressing his manager, his teammates and improving his English whilst remaining injury free.
Said to be a naturally shy person, Tonali’s extended ‘bedding-in period’ will be almost unique with many overseas players said to require up to a year to acclimatise to the rigours of Premier League football in the full glare of the media and fans.
Tonali has been spared this and his experiences must have been grounding and have certainly allowed him to become a better person, tackling his demons and, hopefully, a better player under the gaffer’s tutelage, a coach we know works wonders developing footballers’ abilities.
Personally, I believe there aren’t many better midfield threes than Bruno, Joelinton and Tonali anywhere in the league, (possibly Europe?) especially with young, supplemental talent like Lewis Miley and the more experienced Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff backing them up.
Furthermore, with Tonali starting to enter his prime years, with four years remaining on his contract and being a winner of championships, he could help Newcastle United break its sixty-year wait for domestic silverware and become a modern-day legend at the club.
And that would be some way for him to prove he has still got it and pay the club and the fans back following his destabilising 10-month ban.
