Sandro Tonali cannot rule out a return to AC Milan after Newcastle United’s record signing received a warm welcome by the San Siro support ahead of Tuesday’s 0-0 Champions League stalemate.
That pre-match ovation, however, was about as good as things got for Sandro Tonali on his return to the club where he tasted Scudetto glory in 2022.
Maybe the emotion of the occasion got the better of him. Maybe Milan’s midfield was just better organised and better set-up on the night. Whatever the reason, Newcastle United’s £60 million summer acquisition was a shadow of the player the Rossoneri fans had grown used to seeing crash and bang his way around the San Siro turf, rendered anonymous by an athletic and aggressive Milan side as the visitors hung onto a goalless draw with increasing levels of desperation.
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali toils on AC Milan return
“You expect San Siro to be beautiful but it’s never what you expect. It was difficult but I’m a professional,” Tonali told Sky Italia at full-time. “Then the applause… I was emotional too.”
“I can’t hide my passion for this team. It would be bad to hide the emotion I have.”
It is common knowledge that Tonali is a fanatical AC Milan supporter. A fact which made his big-money departure all the more surprising.
And while his future remains at Newcastle United – he is under contract until 2026 – Tonali feels that his Milan exit was not so much a ‘goodbye’ and more a ‘see you later’.
Caio, after all, can mean both ‘hello’ and ‘farewell’.
A second spell not ruled out
“A return to AC Milan one day? I don’t know…” Tonali muses. “I would pay to know my future. Maybe yes, maybe not. Football is strange.
“I’m not closing the door to AC Milan. I can’t and won’t hide my love, passion for Milan.”
Mustering nine shots compared to Milan’s 25 – and only one on target – Newcastle will be more than happy to have a point on the board but big improvements will be required if Eddie Howe’s side are to still play Champions League football after Christmas.
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