The Suspension Storm Shortly After Joining
This blow caught everyone off guard. In July 2023, Newcastle had just celebrated the successful signing of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, but three months later, the Magpies were forced to accept the news that Tonali had been hit with a 10-month ban for violating gambling regulations during his time in Italy. A senior club source told The Telegraph: "We had no idea and received no warning. At first, we were furious and suspected Milan knew about it and had deceived us. But they insisted they were also in the dark – we chose to believe them because they were just as shocked as we were. The same went for his family. If even they didn't know, how could we have noticed?"
“But this blow was too heavy; he was our flagship signing, yet he was ruled out for the entire season. But anger soon turned to understanding, and we realized this was a young man on the verge of breaking down. He apologized repeatedly, and the club understood it had to protect and support him.”
Even during his short spell at Newcastle before the ban, Tonali's gambling behavior continued, and the then 23-year-old was forced to admit to his addiction. Overwhelmed with shame and remorse, he regularly traveled to Italy to attend addiction meetings and openly shared his experiences in gambling awareness courses in the city of Bari. Without any air of arrogance, his attitude of repentance, willingness to take responsibility, and determination to redeem himself touched the Newcastle staff who were just getting to know him.
Manager Eddie Howe chose tolerance over reprimand. Having witnessed an era when gambling addiction was a hidden vice in football, he was well aware of its destructiveness. He stood by the Italian midfielder, forging an unbreakable bond of trust that remains to this day.
The club set clear goals for Tonali: although he couldn't play during the ban, he had to maintain training standards of the same intensity as those for weekend league matches. Tonali accepted this challenge and successfully met the requirements.
This seemingly bleak period actually played a key role in his transformation today. Not only did he work diligently to complete his daily training, but he also took the initiative to do extra practice after team sessions. Eddie Howe admitted that new signings usually need time to adapt to his tactical system, and Tonali happened to gain this space in an environment free from media pressure. Having let everyone down before, he was desperate to repay the club's support with his actions.
Tonali not only gained a deep understanding of tactical requirements through regular one-on-one sessions with the manager and sports psychologist but also devoted himself fully to learning English – a crucial step. While most foreign players take English classes, Tonali's focus was exceptional. By his return in late August 2024, he could communicate almost fluently.
Newcastle's “Insurance Policy”
At this time last year, many questioned whether Tonali could coexist with Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton. The team was once criticized for its poor balance, with away performances being a particular concern. But by Christmas, this midfield trio had evolved into a perfect combination of speed, strength, stamina, and creativity. As the core, Tonali built a defensive shield for the slower center-backs with his non-stop running. His tireless work rate became his trademark, and the trio is now regarded as one of the best midfields in the Premier League.
Originally signed as a box-to-box midfielder, Tonali was deployed in a more defensive deep-lying role, freeing Bruno to push forward. This arrangement suited him perfectly. The coaching staff praised him for having a "sixth sense" – an ability to anticipate and defuse threats before they materialize. Newcastle once struggled with frequent gaps in transition play, but Tonali changed all that. His game-reading ability has been dubbed the team's "insurance policy," allowing the attacking unit to confidently push high and implement pressing tactics.
Regarding Tonali's Future
Newcastle United hopes to start new contract negotiations with Sandro Tonali as soon as possible, but the club's salary structure and the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) will be key constraints on the renewal.
It is understood that formal talks will only begin after the new Sporting Director, Ross Wilson, takes office – and this will be listed as one of his top priorities. However, there is no guarantee yet that Tonali will eventually sign a new deal. Several clubs across European football have expressed admiration for the Italian midfielder, and the previous departure of Alexander Isak has sounded an alarm for Newcastle: although the club insisted all summer that it would not sell Isak, the player's desire to leave eventually forced the Magpies to let him go.
The deep-seated issue facing Newcastle is the bottleneck in its salary structure. If Isak had agreed to renew his contract at the time, the club could have offered him a team-high weekly wage of over £200,000. But the player knew Liverpool could offer £300,000 a week – a gap that directly influenced his decision. If Tonali is offered a contract similar to Isak's level (as various signs suggest the club might do), it could trigger demands for salary increases from other key players.
Under the strict restrictions of PSR, Newcastle must handle such chain reactions carefully. What truly puts teams like Newcastle and Aston Villa at a disadvantage in competition is not their transfer budget, but the appeal of the top-tier salaries that the traditional "Premier League Big Six" can offer.
