The 2023 summer transfer window has only been open for a few days, and we’ve already seen some shocking deals. In the past month, Saudi Arabian clubs covet some of the world’s biggest stars like Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, and Marcelo Brozović.
We also witnessed the Lionel Messi saga that ended with the World Cup winner calling quits on European football and moving to the MLS.
There were other shocking deals like Kai Havertz moving to Arsenal and Chelsea’s two-time Player of the Year winner Mason Mount leaving his boyhood club for rivals Manchester United.
However, one transfer that has truly rocked the Summer window is Newcastle signing highly-rated talent Sandro Tonali from Italian giants AC Milan.
The deal, which is reportedly worth around €70 million, is a record-breaking one as it became the largest transfer fee in Newcastle’s history and made the 23-year-old midfielder the most expensive Italian footballer of all time.
But this transfer transcends beyond money; it confirms the acknowledged influence and dominance of the English league in the footballing world.
With Tonali set for a new life at St. James’ Park, it’s only fair to wonder what the future holds for him, something we’ll be doing here.
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The love affair begins
Tonali began his youth career at Piacenza before moving to Brescia Calcio in 2012. In his time at Brescia, Tonali was excellent for the youth team at all levels and was called up to train with the first team in 2017 when he was only 17.
He made his professional debut that same year in a 2-1 Serie B loss against Avellino and made 19 appearances in his first professional season.
The following year, he was a vital part of the Brescia team that gained promotion to the Serie A and also played a huge role in the side’s unsuccessful attempt to stay in the Italian top flight.
In 2020, there were multiple reports of big Italian clubs trying to sign Tonali, and after weeks of speculation, he joined AC Milan on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
He made 37 appearances for the Rossoneri in his debut season and was signed permanently for €15m the following season.
Dubbed to be the next Andrea Pirlo due to their similar style of play and ties with Brescia, he had many expectations.
However, he impressed, scoring five goals and assisting three as AC Milan secured their first Scudetto in over a decade. His performance that season earned him massive praise from former Serie A legends, with many predicting him to be one of the club’s greats.
In the 2022-23 season, he pulled off another impressive campaign with AC Milan reaching the Champions League for the first time since 2007 despite failing to retain their Scudetto. But soon after the end of the season, reports linking Tonali to England began to emerge.
The links became concrete, and it was soon confirmed that Saudi-backed Newcastle was in advanced negotiations to sign the midfielder. On 3 July 2023, Newcastle announced the transfer and that Tonali would be signing a five-year deal.
Why Newcastle were attractive
Since the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund acquisition of Newcastle in 2021, the club’s entire direction has changed dramatically in a short time. From being on the brink of relegation to qualifying for the Champions League in under three years is a testament to the proposed vision of the club in the PIF era.
At Newcastle, Tonali would have the chance to be a part of one of Europe’s most exciting teams and a talented manager who has a strong history of developing players. He would also be playing in the Premier League, which is inarguably the most competitive football league in the world.
Last season saw Newcastle secure a top-four finish (a huge achievement for them) and runners-up in the League Cup, so there’s no denying that he would compete for major trophies. At 23 years old, Tonali still has a lot to learn, and playing against the world’s best players week in and week out is surely a great way to develop into the world-class talent he’s destined to be.
What next?
As with every transfer move to a new club and league, it’s almost impossible to say whether it’ll work out. Even worse, there have been lots of young talents in recent years who come to the Premier League after good seasons abroad, only to struggle and lose their confidence. But we’ve also seen stars like Erling Halaand and Eden Hazard, who carried their fine form and amazing abilities to the league.
Ultimately, there are several factors to consider, with the most important being the team set-up and management. At Newcastle, Tonali would be joining a well-organised team and partnering with midfielders like Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, who can massively help his development.
As Eddie Howe has shown multiple times in the last few seasons, Tonali can grow into one of the most exciting midfielders in the league and become an integral part of the club in the coming seasons.
Sandro Tonali is a highly versatile player who can excel in multiple midfield roles. He is equally adept at playing as a deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box midfielder, or a standard central midfielder.
His blistering speed, tireless energy, and creative flair make him a formidable force on the pitch. He also possesses an excellent long-passing ability with either foot and is particularly dangerous when taking set pieces.
The midfielder draws inspiration from the legendary Steven Gerrard and hopes to create a legacy similar to the retired Englishman in the Premier League.
With Newcastle’s signing of Milan’s brightest talent, there is no indication that England’s reign over European football will be coming to an end anytime soon. The Italian’s move to the Premier League has been met with massive debate as to what the future holds for him.
