Sandro Tonali gives brutally honest response about Newcastle United future after agent meeting & Juventus link
Sandro Tonali has been quizzed on his future at Newcastle United after being linked with a return to Serie A with Juventus once again.
Sandro Tonali admitted a return to Italy was ‘possible’ after continued transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Newcastle United.
An Italian media campaign of sorts has seen Tonali continually linked with a return to Serie A almost from the moment he left AC Milan to join Newcastle United for £52million back in 2023.
The Italian record transfer fee initially looked like a misstep from Newcastle as Tonali was handed a 10-month betting ban just months after his arrival.
But the midfielder has since more than lived up to the fee, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders and playing a key role in Newcastle’s Champions League qualification and Carabao Cup win last season.
Tonali has also started the season well with The Magpies, playing a key role in the recent wins over Union Saint-Gilloise and Nottingham Forest.
But while the Italian continues to shine on Tyneside, the reports linking him with a return to Italy continue to gather momentum. A return to AC Milan has previously been mooted but it is Juventus who hold the strongest interest in the 25-year-old.
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Italian clubs can’t afford Sandro Tonali
Tonali’s valuation and salary will price most Italian clubs out of a potential transfer, something the Italian press have even acknowledged.
A report from Tuttomercato claimed a deal for Tonali, considering his wages and contract situation, would cost around €150million (£128million).
The report adds: “Unless Tonali repeatedly asks to leave, his return to Italy seems really complicated.”
A similar message was conveyed by Tonali’s agent, Beppe Riso, last year.
Riso said: “Sandro is one of the best midfielders in the world. He now has a value that Italian clubs will find difficult to afford. I envision a career for him away from Serie A.”
Playing down the reports further, Riso also revealed: “Sandro is absolutely not considering to return in Serie A.
“He’s happy at Newcastle, happy to play in the best league in the world and he’s an idol for Newcastle United fans who’ve always supported Sandro in every moment.”
But football can quickly change of course and Tonali will have two years left on his current contract at Newcastle come the end of the season. The Magpies will be keen to tie the Italian down to a new deal after recently suffering the backlash of not agreeing a new deal with Alexander Isak.
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Sandro Tonali addresses Italy return speculation
Tonali was pictured meeting with his agent in Milan during the current international break, fuelling the speculation from the Italian media
While Tonali is happy with the ‘balance’ he has at Newcastle, he wouldn’t rule out a return to Italy in the future.
"You can never know what will happen, I tell everyone it's possible,” Tonali told Vivo Azzurro about a potential return to Serie A.