Sandro Tonali has some incredible teammates at Newcastle United.
The 25-year-old is one of multiple top level talents at St James’ Park, alongside the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak. They are a key reason why Newcastle United are trophy winners and Champions League contenders.
In Isak, Newcastle have one of the best strikers in world football. Isak is a special talent, with the Sweden international boasting 27 goals in all competitions this season.
It is a remarkable tally, and Sandro Tonali must feel fortunate to have him as a teammate.
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Sandro Tonali names the best player he has played with
However, Isak is not the best player who Tonali has ever played with.
According to the man himself, that honour belongs to someone from his AC Milan days.
During an interview with FuboTV Canada, Tonali was asked to name his best ever teammate.
“So easy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” he answered.
How Alexander Isak feels about Zlatan Ibrahimovic comparisons
It is interesting to see Tonali pick Ibrahimovic ahead of Isak. After all, Ibrahimovic is a player who Isak has been compared to throughout his career.
That is no great surprise. Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s greatest ever player, while Isak has been the next superstar to emerge from those shores.
However, it is a comparison that Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever does not appreciate.
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Isak does not want to be compared to Ibrahimovic, despite also being a top tier goalscorer who represents Sweden. That is according to Swedish journalist Johan Kucukaslan, who spoke to the Athletic about the comparisons in June 2024.
“I have interviewed Alexander a lot of times and he is not fond of getting questions about Zlatan because he doesn’t want to compare himself,” he said.
“They’re two different players, two different personalities.”
What Ibrahimovic said about Tonali joining Newcastle United
Tonali and Ibrahimovic were teammates at AC Milan for three seasons.
They both left in the same summer. Ibrahimovic retired at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, while Tonali joined Newcastle for £55million.
Speaking on the transfer, Ibrahimovic predicted that the Italian midfielder would do very well in England.
“Is Tonali ready for the Premier League? Yes, I think so,” he told Gazzetta in June 2023.
“It depends on him. I made him understand the right mentality he must have to win. And he won. He has grown a lot with Milan, he has a great responsibility and he still has to grow.
“But he will make it in England, and he will make it well.”
Ibrahimovic’s prediction came true, with Tonali becoming a pivotal player for Newcastle United. He has been a transformative figure in midfield for the Magpies, and it is a joy to watch him play in black and white.
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