Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Risso has revealed the inside story behind his move to Newcastle United and why the club’s fans played a key role in helping them recover from their betting scandal.
Sandro Tonali’s departure from AC Milan in July 2023 remains one of the most hotly debated transfers in modern Italian football.
The icon of Milan’s Scudetto-winning side, Tonali was sold for €48m – a deal that ultimately helped the Italian giants complete the 2024 financial year in profit. But this move was sharply criticized by supporters.
The reaction has been even more intense as Tonali has established himself as one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders. Now, Risso has provided a rare insight into how the move was agreed upon behind the scenes.
“This deal happened because a club like Newcastle, with unlimited money, decided to invest in Sandro,” He told football and finance.
“We looked at the idea of getting the player to play at a higher level.”
Betting scandal derails their first season
Tonali’s early months in England were anything but good, as a betting investigation in Italy soon led to a 10-month ban from competitive football.
The suspension, confirmed in October 2023, ruled him out until August 2024 – causing him to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season and Euro 2024.
It was a scandal that rocked Italian football, but Riso says there were no signs of trouble before the move.
“No, not at all, because otherwise we would have intervened,” he said.
“I must say that the transfer also proved to be a winning choice from this point of view. Because both Newcastle and their fans treated Sandro incredibly, always supporting him. In Italy, he received different treatment. Not from the AC Milan fans, who always protected him.”
How Newcastle fans helped Tonali recover
According to Risso, the reaction he received in England proved vital in helping Tonali overcome the worst period of his career. Despite being suspended, the midfielder continued to be loved by the St James’ Park faithful.
He has since established himself as one of the best in the Premier League and a key player for the Magpies. Indeed, reports from England have linked Arsenal with a major move for the 25-year-old this summer.
That will depend on Tonali, who signed a new contract with Newcastle in January. He decided to extend his deal with the club and admitted that part of the decision was due to Newcastle’s support. Riso supported this and admitted that the mentality is different in England.
“At the end of the day, the mentality is different in England,” he said.
“Whenever Sandro entered the stadium despite the suspension, he received a standing ovation. We are talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans saw it and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has completely changed.”
A career reset and a new path forward
Tonali’s journey has certainly been a tumultuous one, but Risso says the midfielder has emerged stronger thanks to Newcastle’s help.
This has certainly been demonstrated on the pitch, as he continues to impress in the Premier League and Champions League.
What happens next is uncertain, but Tonali’s career is undoubtedly firmly back on track. With interest from big clubs, And a possible World Cup in the summer could be the next step.
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