Gianluigi Buffon opens up on Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli after betting bans

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is still working on his match sharpness after sitting out 10 months of football after being hit with a ban for breaching football's betting laws.

The finger was pointed at Tonali by fellow Italy international and Juventus star Nicolo Fagioli and both players were hit with bans, however, while Tonali got a 10 month ban, Fagioli entered into a plea bargain and only received seven months after grassing up Tonali.

Now both players are back in action and part of the Italy set up, we have to wonder what the atmosphere was like in that dressing room when the two entered for the first time since it all went down.

The duo have managed to play together for Italy in the last two Nations League games and both have once again been called up for the latest fixtures.

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Gianluigi Buffon believes Sandro Tonali is stronger after his ban

Italy's record appearance holder Gianluigi Buffon, now part of the coaching staff for the national team, has spoken to the media (via Football Italia) and touched on the pair being back in the national set-up.

“We’re talking about young players who have already shown something important. In my opinion, from a human perspective, the experiences they’ve lived through have made them much stronger and better than before. This can only make the national team even more ambitious.”

Buffon didn't touch on the personal relationship between the two and how that has changed since Fagioli pointed the finger at Tonali.

Sandro Tonali is expected to play in both Nations League games for Italy this month

We imagine that all the bad feelings, if indeed there were any, have gone by now. The pair have been through a lot, including counselling for gambling addiction. The pair probably needed the help and the fact that they've been through this has probably served to bring them closer together.

We're sure that it's all water under the bridge now, at least on a professional level. Their friendship might have changed since.

Italy take on Belgium on Thursday followed by Israel on Monday with Tonali likely to feature in both games.