Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso has reportedly frustrated the North East club by detailing his client’s dream future destinations despite the Italian being under contract at St James’ Park until 2028.
Tonali, 25, has been a revelation since arriving at Newcastle from AC Milan in the summer of 2023, where he has formed a formidable trio with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in the heart of Eddie Howe’s side’s midfield.
The Italy international, who boasts 30 caps for his country, has alerted several Premier League sides with his consistent performances for the Magpies and continues to be linked with a move away from the club.
Despite the player previously being tentatively linked with a transfer to Manchester United, it now appears that two other Premier League clubs are in pole position to sign him should he choose to leave Newcastle.
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Agent Riso has discussed Tonali’s potential future destination during an interview with Italian outlet Calcio E Finanza, which has reportedly left Newcastle frustrated.
When pressed on whether Tonali may sign for Manchester City or Arsenal, Riso explained: “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player. I think he’s the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world.”
The agent then discussed Tonali’s 2023 transfer to Newcastle and put the move largely down to the club’s “unlimited financial resources”.
“The deal came about because a club like Newcastle with unlimited financial resources had decided to invest in Sandro,” Riso explained.
“We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league.”
The conversation then turned to Tonali’s 10-month ban for breaching Italian betting regulations, which his agent claims he had no knowledge of prior to the Italian Football Federation’s investigation.
The Italian agent was quick to praise the reaction of English supporters.
“In England, the mentality is different, and every time Sandro entered the stadium, despite his suspension, he received a standing ovation from the crowd,” he added.
“We're talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans noticed, and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has completely changed.”
If Tonali were to move to either Arsenal or Manchester City, Newcastle would likely expect a fee in excess of £100 million, given the player’s age and quality.
The 25-year-old is currently Newcastle’s fourth-highest earner on £150,000 per week, equal to £7.8 million per year, according to Capology.
Topics: Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United, Premier League, Arsenal, Manchester City, Football
Luke Davies