Sandro Tonali embarrasses Italian media - Absolutely priceless
It's starting to feel like Sandro Tonali has been linked with a return to Serie A by the Italian media more than he's played games at St James' Park over the last 12-18 months.
They are relentless and have been ever since he signed, yet actions speak louder than words and those actions were emphatic from the man himself last night.
Whether it was his all-action, man-of-the-match performance, his passionate celebrations after both goals or his comments on being 'happy' at Newcastle after the game, they all made a mockery of the latest reports coming out of Italy this week.
Laughable claims from Italy
A new front-page report by one of Italy’s largest broadsheet newspapers, Corriere dello Sport, is once again linking Sandro Tonali with a move back to the country in a ‘sensational turning point of a project.'
They report that Juventus’ Head of Scouting, Stefano Stefanelli has identified the Italian international as the perfect signing.
The paper, which is celebrating its one-hundredth anniversary, claim that the Old Lady will look to sell Nicolò Fagioli and Kenan Yildiz to finance the move and that Newcastle are looking for around €55m (£45.4m) for the player.
£45m for a player who cost us £55m last summer is clearly a load of nonsense. He may have spent a long period on the sidelines last season, but he's a big part of Eddie Howe's plans, is fast-becoming a Premier League proven star destined to become one of the best in his position and is now a regular in Italy's senior side; something he was not when he first arrived on Tyneside. He is not leaving for £10m less than we paid for him.
Italian media ignoring agent's comments
Only last week Giuseppe Riso, Tonali’s agent, came out publicly and denied talk of the Italian wanting to return to Italy and being unhappy at United.
He said: ‘Sandro is absolutely not considering to [sic] return in Serie A,’ he said in a statement through his agency, GR Sports, on Instagram. ‘He is happy at Newcastle, happy to play in the best league in the world and he’s an idol for the fans, who have always supported Sandro in every moment.’
On top of that, Howe doubled down on Tonali's future after last night's 3-1 win over Brentford. Asked about the latest exit rumours, he said: "I don't think that's ever come from Sandro. I've only ever seen a player that's very happy here."
Corriere dello Sport must feel their claims have some weight if they are willing to run a front page spread on the story, however, this feels like another easy story for the Italian media to write and there are no direct quotes in the piece, so it definitely comes off as pure speculation.
It seems like Italian media just aren't stopping with these stories despite his agent, Tonali himself, and Eddie Howe all saying he's focused on Newcastle and happy at the club.
Perhaps the Italian sports fraternity are still unhappy that one of the national sides crown jewels plays for ‘little old’ Newcastle, instead of one of the big Italian sides? It certainly feels that way and as if they're trying to force a narrative that he wants out.
Whatever the case, last night's performance, celebrations and post-match words were not that of a man who is wants out and long may that continue.
