Sandro Tonali agent makes transfer admission amid shock Newcastle United exit rumours
Sandro Tonali's agent Beppe Riso has admitted he doesn't see the Newcastle United midfielder returning to Serie A anytime soon, with the player having been linked with a move back to Italy.
The 24-year-old joined the Magpies from AC Milan for a fee in the region of £55million in July 2023. He scored on his debut for Eddie Howe's side during a thumping 5-1 win over Aston Villa.
Tonali made a bright start to life on Tyneside, but was hit with a 10-month suspension from football in October 2023 for breaching Italian betting regulations. It meant he would miss the rest of his first season at the club and Euro 2024.
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The former Brescia man made his long-awaited return to action against Nottingham Forest in August and has cemented himself an integral member of Howe's team in recent months. In fact, Tonali has started in each of Newcastle's last nine matches - a run that has helped see them pick up seven victories.
Tonali's form has seen speculation increase that he could leave St James' Park, with Inter Milan and Juventus reported to be interested in a shock move at the end of the season. However, his agent, Riso, has appeared to squash them rumours and ruled out him moving back to Italy in the short term.
In an interview with La Repubblica via Calciomercato, Riso said: "Sandro is one of the best midfielders in the world. He now has a value that Italian clubs will find difficult to afford. I envision a career for him away from Serie A."
Considering that Tonali's performances have been impressive, there is no doubt that his price tag has risen. He has three-and-a-half years left on his contract at St James' Park and it would be a surprise to see him sold.
After scoring twice for Newcastle in a 3-1 win over Brentford in December, Howe hailed Tonali. He said: "I think it's brilliant to see from my perspective. He's a big signing and you want your big signings to do well and settle quickly. He's been here a while, but has had very little football. Nights like tonight will build connections with him and the supporters even stronger, I'm just really pleased for him on a personal level."
