On Sunday, a resounding 1-3 win in the FA Cup came to Newcastle at Villa Park Few have outsmarted Unai Emery’s Aston Villa this season, even fewer at Villa’s home ground. The English media nevertheless shifted the focus away from the sport. It was a special celebration of Newcastle’s two-goal scorer that got the journalists active in front of the keyboard.
Sandro Tonalo scored twice against Villa this Sunday, this being linked to Arsenal and Manchester United, with the Red Devils seeing the Italian midfield engine as very relevant to replace Casemiro this summer.
READ: Scott McTominay closes the door on Manchester United!
Tonali’s agent has willingly talked about the midfielder “considering his future” in the summer, earlier this month it was announced Man Utd have Tonali high up on the list of candidates to take over the reins of midfield after Casemiro on an expiring contract.
In recent weeks, there have been signals through the English media that the relationship between Tonali and Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has soured. We saw the same thing happen between Alexander Isak and the Newcastle coach in the spring/summer.
Then came Sunday’s game, where Tonali celebrated like a savage after his 1-1 score, a few minutes later the Italian went ahead with a goal on a whizzing long shot. And the celebration here? First running up to his own supporters, then Tonali ran up to Howe on the sideline and invited a real hug.
Newcastle newspaper Chronicle Live immediately interpreted it as the Italian “showing his commitment to the club” and that he is “fighting back against the many transfer rumours”.
– I work every day with the boss, he works every day with me and our relationship is perfect. It’s not broken,” Tonali said, according to Chronicle Live.
Read on F7: We show France they can dread World Cup match against Norway
Howe has previously been asked about his relationship with Tonali and the Italian’s future.
– As far as I know, we have a player who is fantastic and who is a brilliant person. He’s very happy here and has a good relationship with me, his teammates and seems to be enjoying himself,” Howe said. Who on Sunday received a hug that emphasizes this.
We remember how Alexander Isak stopped performing at the end of last season at Newcastle, it was quite clear that he was mentally already on his way away from St. James’ Park. Tonali goes with two goals and a big hug to the coach, this seems like anything but a player who is planning to step into the role of Casemiro replacement at Old Trafford.
