Newcastle United may be without new signing Sandro Tonali for an extended length of time.
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is in a ‘very scary’ situation, according to writer Dean Jones, who updated GIVEMESPORT on how a probe into his betting history is being handled at St James’ Park.
The Italy international faces the risk of his Magpies career imploding before it has even begun, having signed a £55 million deal from Serie A heavyweights AC Milan during the summer transfer window.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, whose team has rebounded after losing three of their first four Premier League games, is facing the potential of being unable to rely on Tonali for an extended period of time.
The Italy international faces the risk of his Magpies career imploding before it has even begun, having signed a £55 million deal from Serie A heavyweights AC Milan during the summer transfer window.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, whose team has rebounded after losing three of their first four Premier League games, is facing the potential of being unable to rely on Tonali for an extended period of time.
Tonali is facing a lengthy ban due to addiction.
Tonali, who admitted to placing bets on football while being quizzed by prosecutors in his own country, could face a 12-month ban, according to Italian media outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.
According to the report, if it is discovered that the defensive midfielder gambled on former club AC Milan, he may face a longer suspension than Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli, who was suspended for seven months by the Italian football federation for breaking rules.
Tonali’s representative, Giuseppe Riso, has acknowledged that the recent Newcastle signing is struggling with a gambling addiction and is cooperating with the authorities. He visited the Turin prosecutor’s office shortly after training with his Newcastle teammates just a day prior. While the 23-year-old is still eligible to play in Newcastle’s upcoming Premier League match against Crystal Palace and has not faced suspension as of now, the club is worried about the potential long-term impact on his availability.
This development is surprising given Tonali’s promising start at Newcastle, where he scored early in his debut and appeared in 10 matches across various competitions. Well-regarded journalist Jones has suggested that Tonali may benefit from some time on the sidelines to adapt to the challenges of the Premier League. However, nobody expected that a gambling investigation would be the reason for his potential absence in the coming weeks.
Jones is concerned about the serious consequences that Tonali might face for his actions and how this could negatively affect his mental health if he receives a long-term ban, potentially thwarting his ambitions at Newcastle. Such a suspension could also be detrimental to the club, considering the significant investment made in Tonali, who earns £120,000 per week.
Jones expressed his concerns, stating, “I find the Tonali situation very troubling for Newcastle because it goes beyond the ongoing investigation. It’s about his overall mindset at the moment and how it may have been impacted by the revelation of his personal issues related to gambling and the potential consequences and ban that may follow. This is a serious matter. Newcastle invested heavily in this player, with high expectations of transforming their team. Ultimately, it’s a £55 million setback if things go south.”
Tonali became one of the highest earners at Newcastle when he joined St James’ Park, with only Bruno Guimaraes having a more lucrative contract. The decision to offer him a high-wage deal could prove costly for the club, especially as he has been ranked as their 12th best performer since the start of the Premier League season, making him one of the club’s most significant transfer blunders.
Newcastle has a history of questionable signings in the past, with the £12 million purchase of Remy Cabella from Montpellier being a notable example. Cabella, who is now with Lille, struggled during his time at Newcastle, scoring only once in 34 appearances. However, Tonali’s deal is poised to surpass Cabella’s in terms of cost due to the transfer fee and his salary. This could force manager Howe to seek further reinforcements when the transfer window reopens, despite the club’s substantial spending of over £100 million in the summer.
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