The Italian midfielder has been heavily linked with a Newcastle departure this summer.
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, has reportedly frustrated the north-east club by detailing his client’s dream destinations, despite the fact that the Italian is under contract at St. James’ Park until 2028.
Read: Real Madrid and Liverpool could make one of the most unexpected player swaps in recent times
Tonali, 25, has been a revelation since arriving at Newcastle from AC Milan in the summer of 2023, where he has formed a formidable trio with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton at the heart of Eddie Howe’s team’s midfield.
The international, who has made 30 appearances for his Italy, has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs with his consistent performances for the Magpies and continues to be linked with a move away from the club.
Despite the fact that the player has previously been cautiously linked with a move to Manchester United, it now appears that two other Premier League clubs are in the driving seat to sign him if he chooses to leave Newcastle.
Agent Riso has discussed Tonali’s potential future destination in an interview with Italian newspaper Calcio E Finanza, which has reportedly left Newcastle frustrated.
When pressed on whether Tonali can sign for Manchester City or Arsenal, Riso explained: “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he left for England – to try and make him a star player. I think he is the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world.”
The agent then discussed Tonali’s move to Newcastle in 2023 and largely attributed the move to the club’s “unlimited financial resources”.
“The deal came about because a club like Newcastle with unlimited financial resources had decided to invest in Sandro,” Riso explained.
“We considered the idea of having the player play in a league at a higher level.”
The conversation then turned to Tonali’s 10-month ban for violating Italian betting rules, something his agent claims he had no knowledge of before the Italian Football Federation’s investigation.
The Italian agent was quick to praise the reaction of English supporters.
“In England, the mentality is different and every time Sandro walked into the stadium, despite the suspension, he got a standing ovation from the crowd,” he added.
“We’re talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans noticed, and he was forgiven. Now Sandro has changed completely.”
If Tonali were to move to either Arsenal or Manchester City, Newcastle would likely expect a fee of over £100 million, given the player’s age and quality.
The 25-year-old is currently Newcastle’s fourth highest earner at £150,000 a week, equivalent to £7.8 million a year, according to Capology.
Read: Guardiola, Thierry Henry and Klopp praise fantastic Bodø/Glimt
