Sandro Tonali has apparently told friends that he wants to return to his boyhood club AC Milan at some point in the future.
Last month, news emerged that Tonali has in fact renewed his contract with Newcastle United by a year, with an option for another season after that. The midfielder wanted to show appreciation after they stuck by him through his ban, especially amid talk of a possible future back in Italy.
However, his comments regarding his fate have caused quite a stir. Speaking after picking up the Man of the Match award following a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in the Champions League, the midfielder admitted his stay at Newcastle might not be long-term.
“It’s a difficult question because in football you have to think season by season. I don’t want to say I’ll stay here for ten years and then maybe leave in two or three. I only want to think about myself,” he said.
Still thinking about Milan
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanNews) report this morning, Tonali didn’t want to leave Milan in the summer of 2023 and he has not forgotten about the team that he grew up supporting, despite becoming arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
Indeed, he confided to friends that he would like to return to the Rossoneri ‘one day’. The paper does go on to state though that his short-term future will most likely be with one of the big clubs in England.
Of course, the form that Tonali is in and his importance to Newcastle means that it would take an astronomical transfer fee to prise him away, especially after a renewal. That fee is one that Milan will not pay, so the return of the Italian is likely to be something that becomes more serious down the line.
Call me crazy, but how can Milan’s management waste €40 million on players like Gimenez or Nkunku and then claim they can’t afford Tonali…
For a player like Tonali, who lives and breathes Milan, they should be willing to spend the money. But it’s clear that there are no Milanisti in management, just business people who don’t understand soccer.
They’ll wait til he has a year left on his contract or else conspire with him to get him on a free transfer.
so in 2029 / 2030 then?
Exactly
We’ll get him back when he’s 35.