Robert De Zerbi makes alarming Sandro Tonali claim as Newcastle United watch on
Newcastle United sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100million in the summer.
Roberto De Zerbi has suggested Sandro Tonali needs time before Tottenham Hotspur see the best of the midfielder.
Newcastle United reunited with Tonali last weekend for the first time since selling him to Spurs for £100million, and they managed to get one over on the Italian by securing a 2-0 victory in North London.
Tonali started the game but was brought off with a quarter of an hour remaining. De Zerbi later admitted post-match that Tonali was still not at his best physically.
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“Sandro Tonali is another crucial player,” De Zerbi said. “He is not in the right condition, in the best condition yet, maybe physically, even though he worked with us at the beginning of the pre-season.”
Tonali has started all three of Tottenham’s opening Premier League matches this season, though he was rested for their Carabao Cup second round win against Charlton Athletic, which came days before Newcastle’s visit.
Robert De Zerbi makes Sandro Tonali claim
Ahead of Spurs’ draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, De Zerbi was pressed further on Tonali and seemingly called for patience when it comes to his big-money midfielder.
That may be alarming to Spurs supporters, as the fee paid indicates that Tonali was very much signed to make an impact now.
“Yes, and he started very well the game, for example, with Chelsea or Hoffenheim,” De Zerbi said. “I think it can happen also the time, maybe he needs more time to understand a new club.
“I remember in the first season in AC Milan, the second season they won the Scudetto, Serie A, but the first season he suffered.
“Then, in the second season, hopefully we want him to play at a good level, already in the first season, but maybe for a new player, it's different now, the dressing room.”