Eddie Howe has responded to reports that Sandro Tonali is being targeted by Real Madrid amid suggestions AC Milan will be entitled to 10% of any sale Newcastle make.
The Toon midfielder has enjoyed a mixed start to the season, taking time to settle into his role at Newcastle but looking particularly impressive on the international stage with Italy.
Following his return from 10-month ban for illegal betting, reports in Milan state that he is being monitored by Real Madrid. It’s an odd story given the side already has the likes of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in their ranks, but what made it even more peculiar was the suggestion that the Magpies would be open to selling the former AC Milan maestro for a fee of £41.5m.
It’s also thought that Milan will be entitled to a 10% sell-on fee, but Howe claimed that he is extremely happy with the player and is focused on integrating the Italian into his side, not letting him go.
Speaking in a recent press conference, Howe said: “That one is news to me. It is not something I am contemplating. I am trying to build Sandro into the team after his ban.
“He has performed really well the last few games. I have been really pleased with how he is finding his feet in the team. He is building new relationships. It is not just the player coming into the team it is also the players around Sandro and how those relationships start to form. I have been pleased how they have.”
Howe continued: “He has been very good psychologically, his attitude has been excellent and I am really hopeful for the future of him in our team.”
Howe said: “We have held a lot of individual meetings with him. A lot of tactical reviews. It is one thing reviewing his training performances but that is totally different from reviewing his match performances and find ways of taking his game to another level. It is a lot easier when a player is in the team.
“I have pleased the way he has come back from his ban. The international games have helped him and he has made a good transition back into the team.”
Like a huge number of fans, I’m all for Tonali. I do, however, have a couple of indisputable points against my own desire to see him do well, as he did for Milan and does for Italy.
1 He has no business being in Newcastle. He is a fish out of water. He is a Milan man through and through.
2 On the pitch? Absolutely mediocre/forgettable/useless.
I think the two are clearly related. By the way. I would LOVE him to prove me wrong. Still early days (?) but I can’t get these two reservations out of my mind, and every match I look to see him dominate. Still waiting,
He won’t be with us very long.
davewallace(Quote)
You couldn’t be more wrong. An USA investment group took over Milan, sold Tonali off, got rid of Paolo Maldini (TD) and his son Daniel. Tonali was very happy to leave for a club that has ambition. He had other options. Since he left, Milan sank like a rock and so did Italy.
When he came back Italy was strong again. I don’t understand what is expected of him. He is a Gattuso with good feet not a Pirlo. I’ve never heard of anybody saying in the past things like “Milan lost because of Gattuso” etc.
He’s not allowed to take set pieces, to play towards the right of the pitch, he has to cover the right as there is no winger (4-3-3 ???). He was given licence to roam around more on his debut game only. I understand Eddie wants to build a setup independent of individual players, it takes time and patience. Tonali has never been the type of player to hold anything back.
Gian(Quote)
You couldn’t be more wrong. An USA investment group took over Milan, sold Tonali off, got rid of Paolo Maldini (TD) and his son Daniel. Tonali was very happy to leave for a club that has ambition. He had other options. Since he left, Milan sank like a rock and so did Italy.
When he came back Italy was competitive again. I don’t understand what is expected of him. He is a Gattuso with good feet not a Pirlo. I’ve never heard of anybody saying, in the past, things like “Milan lost because of Gattuso” etc.
He’s not allowed to take set pieces, to play towards the right of the pitch. He has to cover the right as there is no winger (4-3-3 ???). He was given licence to roam around on his debut game only. I understand Eddie wants to build a setup independent of individual players, it takes time and patience. Tonali has never been the type of player to hold anything back.
Gian(Quote)
You couldn’t be more wrong. An USA investment group took over Milan, sold Tonali off, got rid of Paolo Maldini (TD) and his son Daniel. Tonali was very happy to leave for a club that has ambition. He had other options. Since he left, Milan sank like a rock and so did Italy.
When he came back Italy was competitive again. I don’t understand what is expected of him. He is a Gattuso with good feet not a Pirlo. I’ve never heard of anybody saying, in the past, things like “Milan lost because of Gattuso” etc.
He’s not allowed to take set pieces, to play towards the right of the pitch. He has to cover the right as there is no winger (4-3-3 ???). He was given licence to roam around
on his debut game only. I understand Eddie wants to build a setup independent of individual players, it takes time and patience. Tonali has never been the type of player to hold anything back.
Gian(Quote)