What stunned Newcastle United about Sandro Tonali before they even made a bid

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Newcastle United are reaping the rewards after deciding to sign Sandro Tonali in 2023.

He was the Magpies’ statement signing after qualifying for the Champions League, with Sandro Tonali arriving from AC Milan for £55million. He became one of Newcastle’s most expensive signings ever, sitting second behind Alexander Isak.

That deal now looks to be money well spent. Tonali has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders, as he continues to excel in the middle of the park alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

While his first season with Newcastle United was ruined by a 10-month ban for betting, his second season has seen Tonali emerge as the player that Toon officials thought they were signing two years ago.

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What shocked Newcastle United during Sandro Tonali scouting mission

There was shock amongst Toon fans when it emerged that Tonali was swapping the San Siro for St James’ Park.

Interestingly, that shock was shared by Newcastle United officials.

According to the i Paper, Newcastle United were stunned that their initial interest in Tonali was actually being entertained by his representatives after secretly scouting the Italy international.

The two players Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali ahead of

What followed was a £55million transfer from AC Milan to Newcastle United, with the Magpies acting swiftly after using their interest in Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella as a smokescreen.

Newcastle pulled off a coup, with Tonali blossoming into the player they thought he was.

They saw the ability that he had and the role he could play, making Tonali their top transfer target ahead of some impressive names.

Newcastle wanted James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai, but shelved their interest in them to prioritise their pursuit of Tonali.

Upon his arrival, some outsiders questioned the deal. It was unclear where he would fit into the Magpies’ starting XI, with suggestions that he would not be able to function in the same team as Bruno Guimaraes.

The question marks over the deal grew even larger when Tonali was handed a 10-month ban for breaching gambling rules. In an instant, Newcastle United had lost their marquee signing.

But he has been available for pretty much the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign, with Tonali developing into the player that makes Eddie Howe’s side tick.