Former AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao admits he has been taken aback by Sandro Tonali’s £55 million move to Premier League giants Newcastle United.
Now, some pundits may have been a little guilty of ‘over-egging’ Sandro Tonali’s importance to AC Milan. He was not quite, as many have suggested, the driving force behind the Rossoneri’s Scudetto triumph in 2022, or their run to the semi-finals of the Champions League 12 months later.
That honour belongs, instead, to the jet-heeled Rafael Leao.
But still, the midfielder’s sudden San Siro departure has caused it’s fair share of hand-wringing; the deal which brought Tonali to Newcastle United for an eye-watering £55 million shining a UV light on the growing financial disparty between the Premier League and Serie A, while highlighting the new-found pulling power of Eddie Howe’s Magpies.
Leao, meanwhile, did not see Tonali’s departure coming. Especially considering the former Brescia star is a dyed-in-the-wool, cut-him-and-he-bleeds-black-and-red AC Milan fanatic.
Newcastle United seal Sandro Tonali deal with AC Milan
“He’s an important player for us. I didn’t expect him to leave,” the Portugal international admits on his official YouTube channel.
“He made the difference in midfield.”
I saw him as (Gennaro) Gattuso’s heir, because he’s been a Milan fan since he was a child. He was someone I would (have expected to) see at Milan for many years.
“We have a good relationship. I wish him much success in his new venture.”
Tonali, who set up seven goals last season and impressed for Italy at the U21 European Championships, becomes arguably the most high-profile signing of the Saudi Arabian era at Newcastle United, if not quite the most expensive.
While Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman were fine additions, Tonali is the first player to leave one of Europe’s bonafide A-list clubs in his prime in order to join Eddie Howe’s assault on the established elite.
“For the league, it’s a step forward,” former Newcastle favourite Philippe Albert tells Milan News. “The Premier League is certainly stronger (than Serie A). But Milan is still Milan. A club that has won many trophies and that, in the 1980s, was the strongest team (in Europe),”
“Newcastle are a great club. But, currently, going from Milan to Newcastle is a step backwards.
“But when a club is forced to accept offers, the player then has to do the same and agree to leave.”
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