Sandro Tonali broke down in tears when told to leave Milan to join Newcastle, Serie A club need funds from his transfer
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Sandro Tonali reportedly broke down in tears when he learned Milan was insisting on selling him to Newcastle United.
According to Italian outlet La Repubblica, the 23-year-old wanted to stay at San Siro, so he was saddened to hear he was going to be sold. He was reportedly looking forward to staying with Milan for the rest of his career. However, the Serie A giants decided to cash in on the midfielder, as they needed the money.
Newcastle have struck a deal for the Italy international joining them in a further €70m deal, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. He becomes the most expensive sale for an Italian player, joining him on a six-year deal.
Tonali has been at Milan since 2020 when he joined the Rossoneri from fellow Serie A club Brescia. He scored seven goals and contributed 13 assists in 130 matches across all competitions. He won the Italian league title with Stefano Pioli’s team in 2022.
However, his impressive performances for club and country tempted Newcastle to lure him to St James’ Park. This came against his wishes, with the player wanting to stay in Milan.
It is said that Tonali’s teammates also share the same sentiments the midfielder has over the move. Tuttosport claims the Milan dressing room is “humanly sorry” but understands the move financially.
Tonali, the new joiner of Newcastle, had rejected Inter Milan before joining AC Milan
Newcastle have signed one of the most iconic midfielders in Italian football. However, Tonali could have played for Milan rivals Inter Milan, as the Nerazzurri have set their sights on him in 2020.
He admitted his agent had talks with Inter, but ultimately wanted to join his boyhood club (via GOAL):
“Everyone more or less supports Milan where I am, including my dad, who passed that passion on to me as a kid. I wanted to wear this shirt for a while.
“I didn’t talk much with Massimo Cellino (boss of Brescia), but he immediately understood what it meant to me. He said he let me make my choice, and I keep his word.”
Tonali went on to explain that talks were held with Inter but once Pioli’s team entered the equation, they wanted the move:
“My agent did most of the negotiations with Inter, so he left me quite rightly, so I wouldn’t get distracted. As soon as I heard about Milan, and he knew I supported them, we talked, and I let him go to work.”
He is now leaving his boyhood team after three years with the Rossoneri. He joins Newcastle, which is emerging as a European powerhouse, and plays football in the UEFA Champions League next season.
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