Italian media release Sandro Tonali update as £55m man returns to Newcastle training
Last night, The Times revealed that Sandro Tonali is back on Tyneside and set to resume training with his Newcastle teammates on Monday morning.
This comes after he and Italian teammate Nicolo Zaniolo were questioned by police on Thursday last week following allegations of illegal betting, seeing both leave Italy's training camp early ahead of their EURO qualifier with England tomorrow night.
Over in Italy, the media continue to issue 'updates' on the ongoing case, with one arriving from La Gazetta dello Sport this morning.
They claim that Tonali is ready to negotiate his own plea bargain with the Italian Football Federation and the prosecutor, having already seen friend and fellow countrymen Nicolo Fagiolo (Juventus) come forward. Last week, reports suggested Tonali and Zaniolo had denied their involvement in football betting, confessing to blackjack and poker instead, but this paints a slightly different picture.
Where the truth lies remains to be seen, but it's thought a three-year ban is often the punishment handed to anyone guilty of illegal betting in Italy. However, La Gazetta dello Sport state that a reduced ban of 18 months could be offered if the players involved come clean and assist the authorities with their investigation.
The same piece adds that those who have spoken to the player describe him as ‘distressed and disheartened’ by the investigation, saying there's been ‘no shortage of tears’ over the matter.
Hopefully Tonali is just being questioned due to his friendship with Fagiolo and a lengthy ban is avoided. The latest reports from Italy suggest otherwise, but we'll have to hope the former AC Milan man hasn't delved into anything beyond blackjack and poker.
