Sandro Tonali dismissed discuss of a return to Serie A after serving to Newcastle United finish their lengthy await a serious trophy and return to the Champions League.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for a reported £60million charge however performed simply 12 video games in all competitions in his first season earlier than he was hit with a 10-month suspension for unlawful betting exercise.
He returned to motion final August and was instrumental for Newcastle as they gained their first home main trophy for 70 years with a 2-1 win over Liverpool within the EFL Cup. The Magpies then went on to cap a memorable season by ending fifth within the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification for subsequent season courtesy of the additional place earned due to England’s UEFA coefficient.
After an detached begin to the 2024-25 season, Newcastle’s fortunes had been reworked largely by Tonali being moved to the bottom of the midfield, his skill to regain possession and progress the ball ahead pivotal to the success of Eddie Howe’s staff.
Tonali scored six objectives and supplied three assists in 2024-25. He completed tied third within the Premier League for possessions gained within the center third of the pitch (109).
Newcastle’s midfield of Tonali and Brazil internationals Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton is seen as top-of-the-line within the Premier League.
And, having beforehand spoken warmly of how the membership stood by him throughout his ban, Tonali has no intention of transferring again to Italy.
“I’m blissful the place I’m now. I’ve discovered individuals who care about me, and I care about them,” Tonali advised Sky Sport Italia forward of Italy’s World Cup qualifiers with Norway and Moldova.
“I don’t need to break any of the bonds I’ve constructed. “I’ve had a whole lot of ideas day by day, however proper now, I’m blissful the place I’m.”
“It is a black and white eruption” ⚫️⚪️
Sandro Tonali opens the scoring for Newcastle Utd inside simply TWO minutes
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0DAZnctJ0i
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) Could 11, 2025
Recalling the victorious EFL Cup marketing campaign, Tonali added: “It was stunning as a result of it was exhausting.
“We weren’t the favourites, and we by no means actually have been. We beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
“We weren’t the favourites in virtually each match, nevertheless it was particular additionally as a result of when an surprising staff wins, all eyes flip to them. It was wonderful to do it with a staff that hadn’t carried out it in 70 years, with unbelievable followers.”
Italy are aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the primary time since 2014, and their activity must be simpler with the event’s enlargement to a 48-team finals in the US, Mexico and Canada.
The Azzurri crashed out of Euro 2024, a event Tonali missed due to his ban, with a last-16 defeat to Switzerland.
Tonali scored twice as Italy reached the Nations League quarter-finals, wherein they misplaced to Germany.
Now, as Italy intention to return by way of a qualifying group wherein Norway are the principle menace, Tonali is hopeful a way of unity will serve them effectively.
“Generally, when I’m away from Italy for a very long time or throughout lengthy breaks, I do miss coming residence a bit, however I at all times come again with the nationwide staff and I at all times give my finest,” he defined.
“There’s a gaggle right here that wishes to be collectively and must be right here, united. There’s a need to face these 10 days as an actual staff, staying shut and attempting to not make issues more durable for ourselves. That’s typically the place the groups wrestle, and we’re attempting to maintain issues easy.”
