adminSandro Tonali is close to becoming Tottenham’s record signing, but the Newcastle star has raised eyebrows by admitting he is already thinking about his next club after Spurs.
Tonali has agreed to join Tottenham for a fee of £100 million (€116m) including add-ons, with £92.5m (€108m) being paid up front.
Tottenham have pulled off a major coup in signing a player who many believed would join a Champions League side, having been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City during the year.
However, Tottenham were the only club willing to meet Newcastle’s asking price and have agreed a six-year contract, with the deal expected to be completed soon.
Tonali flew to the UK for a medical, but not before making comments about his long-term future and a possible return to AC Milan.
He said:
> “We haven’t spoken yet, but it would be a great feeling to work with [Maldini] again. It’s always been difficult. There’s never been an opportunity to return to Italy. Is it my dream to return to Milan one day? We always joke about it, but I think if the opportunity arises one day, we’ll talk about it seriously.”
Tonali leaves Newcastle after three years, although his first season was disrupted after receiving a ten-month ban for betting offences.
The ban led to a difficult period for him mentally, but Newcastle supported him through recovery, including helping him settle in England.
He returned in August 2024 in strong form, becoming an important player under Eddie Howe and helping Newcastle win a domestic trophy and qualify for the Champions League.
However, his final season was mixed, and reports suggested his agent had explored a possible exit, including interest from Arsenal during the January transfer window.
There were also ongoing links to a return to AC Milan, the club he left after Newcastle made a €60m offer that made him the most expensive Italian signing at the time.
It has been clear that Tonali remains strongly connected to his roots, and he admitted that Roberto De Zerbi’s presence at Tottenham played a key role in his decision to join.
Despite Tottenham’s ambition to return to the Premier League elite with major signings, there are concerns the club could become a stepping stone if they fail to secure consistent Champions League football.
For now, Tottenham are celebrating a major signing, but the pressure will be on to keep Tonali committed long term.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
admin
