Sandro Tonali
League: Premier League
Position: Center Midfield
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Age: 26
Country: Italy
Major honours: 1 X Serie A (AC Milan), 1 X League Cup (Newcastle United)
Club History: Brescia, AC Milan, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur
Cerberus Sport | Alamy
From the mists of Brescia to a new challenge in London: Sandro Tonali’s quiet revolution, drama, and rebirth.
In the world of football, it is rare to encounter a player who, at just 19 years of age, draws comparisons to Andrea Pirlo, resembles Gennaro Gattuso in playing style, and rivals Xavi Hernández in footballing intelligence. Sandro Tonali is not merely a talent; he is the most dramatic, contradictory, and at the same time inspiring portrait of modern Italian football.
Before tens of thousands of fans at the San Siro or Premier League stadiums roared his name, young Sandro was growing up in the small Lombard town of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano. There are a few details about his childhood that are little known to the general public.
Sandro had been a devoted AC Milan fan since childhood, yet at the age of eight, he underwent his first serious trials with the club's arch-rival, Inter Milan. Coaches at the Inter academy deemed young Sandro physically weak and lacking the necessary technical skills, and consequently, they turned him away.
Tonali’s childhood was not a tranquil one; he was characterized by a deeply introverted nature. Later, when a betting scandal erupted around him, it emerged that his gambling addiction had taken root during his teenage years an attempt to escape loneliness and constant pressure—a trait he had skillfully concealed for years.
Tonali made his professional debut for Brescia in Serie B in August 2017, while still just 17 years old. During the 2018–2019 season, he helped the team earn promotion to Serie A and was named the league's best young player. His long hair, vision on the pitch, and composed passing reminded everyone of Pirlo.
"He isn't Pirlo. Sandro is much more aggressive, wins the ball back better, and is the ideal midfielder for modern football. He is a blend of the best qualities of mine and Andrea's."
— Gennaro Gattuso
Milan — A Dream Come True and the Scudetto
In the summer of 2020, Tonali joined AC Milan on loan, and the club later signed him permanently. The first season proved difficult, marked by adaptation challenges and pressure. However, Sandro demonstrated remarkable character: he took a pay cut to enable Milan to afford his permanent transfer.
In the 2021–2022 season, Tonali became the heart and soul of Milan. His decisive goals (especially the last-minute winner against Lazio) and leadership qualities helped the team win the Scudetto (Serie A title) after an 11-year hiatus.
The relationship between Sandro Tonali and AC Milan was far more than a simple football contract, it was a story of a childhood dream, great sacrifice, and an emotional journey.
When Tonali was moving to Milan, he wanted to wear the number 8 shirt—the number that had belonged to his childhood idol, Gennaro Gattuso. Sandro showed such great respect that he called Gattuso directly to ask for his permission.
"He called me and asked, 'Rino, can I take your number 8?' I told him he needed permission from the club, not me, but added: 'Go ahead, brother—fight the way I did, just play with better technique than I did!'"
— Gennaro Gattuso
By the way, as a child, Tonali owned a mug featuring an image of Gattuso; when his mother accidentally broke it, Sandro became so upset that he wouldn't calm down until the pieces had been glued back together.
"Sandro showed what it means to play with heart for the club you love. He took a pay cut to stay—a gesture that is extremely rare in modern football."
— Paolo Maldini
In the summer of 2020, Inter had reached an agreement on almost every aspect of the Tonali transfer with both Brescia and the player's agent. Nerazzurri coach Antonio Conte had the deal all but secured, yet Inter hesitated at the last moment, as they wanted to sign a more experienced midfielder instead. As soon as Paolo Maldini learned of the situation, he sorted everything out within 48 hours. When Tonali's agent informed him that AC Milan had entered the race, Sandro said: "I'm closing the door on everyone else; I'm only waiting for Milan."
To help the club financially and ensure the transfer went through, Tonali reduced his annual salary from €1.6 million to €1.2 million.
"Staying at Milan meant more to me than money. Other clubs were offering much more, but my dream was to play in this jersey," Tonali said at the time.
Sandro Tonali has a tattoo reading "Impossible," with the first two letters ("Im") crossed out by a red line. When asked what it meant, he replied: "It reminds me that nothing in life is impossible—including a boy from a small town, who wasn't accepted into the academy, becoming the captain and a champion of his favourite club."
Sandro Tonali’s departure from Milan was the most dramatic, painful, and unexpected transfer saga of the summer of 2023. To the Rossoneri faithful, he was not merely a footballer—Sandro was viewed as the club’s future captain, a true Milanista, and a key symbol of the team’s identity.
"When I watch Sandro play, I see my own youth, though he has better physical attributes than I did. He is a midfielder capable of controlling everything in the center of the pitch."
— Andrea Pirlo
The new management shifted the focus to data analysis and financial profit. Their strategy involved a single high-value sale, using the proceeds to acquire four or five new players and strengthen the squad.
Two weeks after Maldini's departure, on June 21, 2023, Newcastle United—having qualified for the Champions League—made an official offer. The English club initially put €50 million on the table, but upon sensing the Italian side's interest, they quickly raised the figure to €70 million (including bonuses).
According to reports in the Italian media, the young midfielder could not hold back his tears when he realized that the club—for which he had once even taken a pay cut, had unhesitatingly agreed to sell him. He did not want to leave Milan, yet he understood that the club had already decided to let him go and that staying there no longer made sense.
A wave of fan protest swept through San Siro. Supporters openly criticized the American owners for selling the club's soul. Meanwhile, Sandro published an emotional farewell letter on social media: "Today, my heart is torn in two. You know what Milan means to me... I hope this isn't 'goodbye,' but rather 'see you later.' I love you."
Sandro Tonali’s departure from Milan became a clear example of how modern football has changed. Traditional loyalty and childhood dreams lost the battle against financial balance sheets and analytical models. Sandro continued his career on the grand stages of London or Newcastle, yet his sale remains one of the most painful chapters in Milan's history.
A fairytale debut and a love for St. James' Park
Tonali's English adventure got off to a perfect start. On August 12, 2023, in his Premier League debut against Aston Villa, it took Sandro just six minutes to score his first goal. He completely dominated the center of the midfield, masterfully controlling the game as Newcastle demolished their opponents 5–1. The more than 50,000 fans gathered at St James' Park were chanting his name from day one. In Eddie Howe's system, the Italian midfielder slotted perfectly into the partnership of Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton.
Just when it seemed Tonali was set to conquer the Premier League, the football world was rocked by shocking news in October 2023. Italian prosecutors and the Football Federation (FIGC) launched an investigation into betting on illegal platforms. It turned out that Sandro had been battling a gambling addiction for years and was even placing bets on matches involving his former teams (Brescia and Milan).
The Italian Football Federation handed Tonali a 10-month ban, coupled with an eight-month rehabilitation program and mandatory meetings with young footballers regarding the dangers of gambling. Tonali effectively lost the season—he missed Euro 2024 and almost the entire Premier League campaign.
"That was the darkest period of my life. I felt isolated and guilty, but Newcastle, Eddie Howe, and the fans didn't turn their backs on me. They saved me."
— Sandro Tonali
At a time when many clubs would have considered terminating the contract in such a situation, Newcastle demonstrated unprecedented loyalty. The club provided Sandro with full psychological and medical support. During his suspension, Tonali was permitted to train with the team, which helped him maintain his fitness. At every match, Newcastle fans would display Italian flags and banners reading "Sandro Forza!"
On August 28, 2024, following a forced 308-day hiatus, Sandro Tonali officially returned to the pitch; on March 16, 2025, Newcastle played in the Carabao Cup final. Tonali played the full 90 minutes, delivering a magnificent performance and helping the team secure victory. This marked Newcastle's first domestic trophy in 70 years. Tonali's tears after the final whistle became a symbol of his resurgence after enduring a living hell.
In the 2025–2026 season, Tonali enjoyed another brilliant year at Newcastle, proving himself to be one of the best central midfielders in the world. In the summer of 2026, following a dramatic yet successful three-year stint, a new chapter began in Tonali's career: London's Tottenham Hotspur paid an astronomical £100 million to secure his services. Sandro left Newcastle not as a fallen star, but as a fighter who fulfilled the club's 70-year-old dream.
He made the journey from the foggy pitches of Brescia to AC Milan—the club of his childhood dreams—where he took a pay cut just to wear the jersey he loved. He experienced the cold business realities of modern football when his beloved club sold him for €70 million, and he confronted his darkest demons during a ten-month ban.
When Sandro Tonali steps onto the pitch, he carries more than just tactical instructions. His game reflects a quiet dignity and an unspoken resilience—the kind possessed only by those who have walked through hell and returned victorious. Tonali has proven the most important point: in football, a mistake does not define who you are; what defines you is how you get back up after making it.
Mark Fletcher | Alamy
Written by Nini Giorgadze