The Unstoppable Rise of Sandro Tonali: How AC Milan's Midfield Maestro Can Ignite Newcastle's Evolution
Newcastle's latest signing, Sandro Tonali, brings a unique blend of elegance and tenacity to the midfield With his arrival, the club's aspirations of making a lasting impact in the Champions League are bolstered
Sandro Tonali is unafraid to push beyond his limits.
Following AC Milan's triumphant capture of their first Serie A title in 11 years last summer, the open-top bus parade brimmed with the collective rage of the Curva Sud, where Sandro's father Giandomenico often stood alongside him.
Inter Milan, the reigning champions of the league and winners of the Italian Cup, fell short by a mere two points to their rivals. However, Stefano Pioli's Milan squad showed no intention of letting the 19th Scudetto in the club's history slide by with a mere whisper of recognition.
Image:
Tonali could be deployed in a defensive midfield role
The bus made its way through the fashion capital of the world, resembling a catwalk from Casa Milan to the Duomo, creating an extravagant party atmosphere. Thousands of fans assembled at the Duomo, adding to the excitement.
Tonali appeared at the party wearing a shirt that displayed a highly disrespectful and vulgar message directed towards Inter, their cross-city rivals. Additionally, a banner was displayed, further taunting the Nerazzurri.
The midfielder, who is 23 years old, received a €4,000 fine for his involvement in the actions, but it only strengthened his bond with the Milan ultras. Growing up, he traveled across Europe with his father to witness Champions League matches, which has instilled in him a deep understanding and connection to Milanismo.
Image:
The 23-year-old represented Italy U21s at this summer's Euros
Upon exiting the boat, Tonali unveiled his modified tattoo on his right hand's back, displaying the word "impossible" with a red line crossing the initial two letters.
Ever since Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund acquired Newcastle in October 2021, the club has embraced a comparable mindset. Both the players and the team now perceive that everything is attainable.
Football has always been Tonali's passion. At the young age of eight, he was already traveling for an hour from his small hometown of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano in the Province of Lodi in Lombardy, approximately 20 miles away from Milan. Two years later, he continued his journey from Piacenza, and at the age of 11, he made the commute from Brescia.
Over time, Tonali would find his true potential under the guidance of owner Massimo Cellino, but the road to success was not without challenges.
"One of my strokes of luck was having Cellino as president, and I hope all young players encounter someone like him," expressed Tonali. "At 17, every footballer aspires to play and earn money. I came across Cellino, who, defying all expectations, chose to send me back to the Primavera [the youth league] for six months."
Image:
Tonali arrived at Milan brimming with promise
I initially believed it was a rejection, but he made the effort to visit and speak with me. It became clear that he did it to safeguard me from falling into the same trap as others who lose themselves to ambition. I still have frequent conversations with Cellino.
The devoted supporter of AC Milan since his childhood arrived at San Siro three summers back, starting with a loan from Brescia before the move was finalized with a five-year contract.
He even accepted a decrease in pay to facilitate the move, indicating that the temporary transfer had not been highly successful. Where Barcelona, Manchester United, and Inter Milan had all previously shown interest, this acceptance meant he had to once again demonstrate his value.
Image:
Tonali's appearance has similarities to Andrea Pirlo
Tonali's participation in the U21 European Championships this summer, being one of Italy's three allowed overage players, reinforced Milan's willingness to accept a substantial fee for him. After a remarkable four-year stint with Brescia, Tonali has earned the nickname 'new Andrea Pirlo'. However, his resemblance to Pirlo, especially with his shaggy hair, has only hindered in effectively managing the high hopes placed upon him.
Content: Emulating the achievements of the Milan legend has always been a challenging task, but unfortunately, he has failed to reach his full potential despite a comfortable environment. The 2022/23 season proved to be a disappointment for Milan, as their hopes of retaining the title crumbled.
Despite Inter's unexpected journey to the Champions League semi-finals, serving as a form of redemption, it only served as a temporary distraction from the underlying issues. The team struggled with consistency, even though they managed to secure a top-four finish.
Tonali's dynamism flickered, however, as he recorded his highest number of assists - seven - in a league season since 2019/20 with Brescia.
Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.
Open Privacy Options
Content: Tonali's surprising move to Tyneside caught everyone off guard, especially considering he was seen as the leader of a promising new era under Pioli. Fabio Cappello praised the midfielder, stating that he would have thrived even in the prestigious 'Great Milan'. Cappello highlighted Tonali's remarkable qualities, including his strong defensive skills, intelligence, and personality. Additionally, Tonali's ability to swiftly move the ball forward and his excellent vision are exceptional.
Roberto Mancini did not include Tonali in his recent Nations League finals squad, despite being one year away from Euro 2024. However, Tonali's move to the Premier League for a significant amount of money will definitely catch the attention of Italy's head coach. Tonali now needs to prove himself once again as one of Europe's exceptional midfielders.
According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Tonali is set to earn €10m-a-season (£8.57m) at St James' Park, which is more than three times his current salary. This transfer fee is comparable to the €67m (£57.4m) received for Kaka, a former Ballon d'Or winner, when he moved to Real Madrid in 2009.
Where will Tonali fit in at Newcastle?
Despite the fanbase already being unsettled by Paolo Maldini's departure as technical director and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's retirement, Tonali's upcoming departure has further shaken them. Nevertheless, Newcastle remains optimistic in their pursuit to find a replacement for the midfield engine that played a vital role in Milan's recent triumph, their first title since 2011.
Image:
Tonali hopes to win the affection of Tyneside.
Newcastle is optimistic that Tonali's enthusiasm can now be mirrored in the team's black and white kits. The agreed-upon fee, deemed a "stunning amount" by Gazzetta dello Sport, was one that Milan couldn't turn down.
Newcastle dispatched delegates to solidify their admiration for the player who led Italy's U21s team at the European Championships in Georgia and Romania.
Eddie Howe is willing to reposition Bruno Guimaraes closer to the opponent's goal as Tonali, who boasts 14 appearances for Italy's senior team, graces St James' Park. Yet, he is not your typical holding midfielder. Anticipate an absence of him merely stationed in front of the defense.
When Sean Longstaff was sidelined due to injury, Newcastle experienced a significant decline. Guimaraes was compelled to assume a more defensive position for extended periods from January to May, a time when Howe had only four recognized midfielders available for selection.
The side was at risk of being derailed, as losses at home to Liverpool and Arsenal resulted in a poor record of one victory in eight matches against top-five opponents.
Last season, Pioli primarily deployed Tonali as a No 6 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which means Guimaraes will have more freedom to play in advanced positions. With adeptness in using both feet and being neat in possession, Tonali will enhance Newcastle's ability to retain the ball, considering they ranked 12th in the Premier League last season for accuracy in passing.
Tonali is set to sign a contract extension until 2028, marking the highest-ever transfer sale for an Italian player. This significant acquisition aligns with Howe's strategic approach, as Newcastle ambitiously strive to solidify their position amongst the top clubs in European football.
They were trying to secure Sven Botman's transfer to the northeast last summer, as Milan had expressed interest. However, their focus has now shifted towards capturing the individual who was anticipated to assume the role of club captain at Milan.
Tonali has openly confessed that his childhood hero was none other than Gennaro Gattuso, who consistently thrived on pushing boundaries in his playing style.
With Pirlo's grace and Gattuso's granite, Newcastle can ensure their return to the Champions League after a 20-year hiatus is not a brief one.
