Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso has explained his client’s move to Newcastle United will see him join the ‘NBA of football’.
This time three years ago Tonali was soon to be announced as a new Milan player, with the details of a deal being worked out with Brescia. It would be an initial loan deal that then became permanent in the summer of 2021.
The move was labelled a dream at the time for Tonali given that he grew up as a fan of the Rossoneri, attending games as a young boy and hoping to one day don the red and black stripes.
However, his time at Milan would last just three years as he has swapped red and black for black and white, joining Newcastle United in a deal that is widely reported to be a record fee for an Italian player.
Returning from England after accompanying Tonali for his signing with Newcastle, Riso spoke to the reporters present and shed some light on the deal.
“It is an operation that will enter the history books, we are happy. There is a lot of satisfaction,” he began.
“I would like to take the opportunity to remember Mino Raiola, we miss him and he changed the way we work and he gave you a hand too: he created shows and attractions.
“I would like an award is organised because he deserves it. When such important clubs in the Premier League like Newcastle – which is the NBA of football – appear, it is right for all parties to sit down and think.”
Milan were also believed to be negotiating over another of his clients Davide Frattesi, but he is now heading to Inter.
“An important operation, he really wanted to put on an Inter shirt. We had a lunch with Milan where we also talked about Davide and times were tight, we had already finished with Inter. We also talked about Frattesi.”
Nu-Raiola much? No wonder.