Paris Saint-Germain and Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has heaped praise upon Sandro Tonali, who he believes came through ‘difficult times’ to reach the level he is at now.
Tonali arrived on a loan with option to buy deal from Brescia in the summer of 2020 and he initially needed time to get used to playing in a double pivot having been the deepest of a three-man midfield at Brescia, but few expected the explosion that came in 2021-22 as he became a leader of the midfield department.
There is no doubt that having some physical problems in the summer of 2020 – thus resulting in a delayed start to his preseason – certainly hindered his adaptation, but being able to get right up to speed last year gave him a positive outlook to begin with and the results were there for all to see.
Marco Verratti gave an interview to Sport Week – La Gazzetta dello Sport’s weekly magazine – and as part of it he was asked about his thoughts on Tonali.
“We are in good shape in midfield. Tonali is an extraordinary guy who has lived through difficult times at Milan, but he never gave up. He has character and will go far,” he said (via MilanNews).
