Sandro Tonali now says moving to Premier League with Newcastle United has helped his overall game
Sandro Tonali took a bit longer to become established in the Premier League than he'd have liked after his £55 million move from AC Milan to Newcastle United.
That settling-in period was less to do with him getting used to the English game and more to do with the 10-month ban he was hit with early on in his Newcastle career after admitting to some gambling issues from his time when playing in Italy.
There's a feeling that AC Milan knew what was coming, and that's why we were able to pick up one of Italy's most promising players for so 'cheap'. We're not sure that £55 million is cheap for someone who'd never played in the Premier League, but after last season, it does feel like we got a bargain, so if that is why, then thanks for being so shady, Milan. Joke's on you.
The Italian international is persistently linked with a return to Italy by desperate journalists who hate seeing their star leave to move to England.
Sandro Tonali credits playing in the Premier League for making him a better player
On international duty this week, Tonali has been speaking to the press (via Milan News) and has spoken about how moving to England, where the game is 'less tactical', has helped his game.
“After the warm-up, the players can play in any stadium. When I play, I just focus; I don’t look outside anymore. Even when we played in front of 80,000 people, it was the same for us.
“We play as if we were on the pitch and bring what we’ve prepared throughout the week. Tomorrow [today] we’ll face a respectable opponent, with strong players, so we mustn’t underestimate anyone but play our football.
“When you’re struggling, you work harder; you understand what you really want to do and what you care about. The Premier League helped me; they play a different kind of football, less tactical but very fast, quick, and physical.
“That’s the difference compared to other leagues. But it’s not just that; it’s the work that goes into it every day.”
Sandro Tonali has proven himself to be indispensable
Tonali continues to improve at Newcastle and has formed a fantastic partnership with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in the middle of the park for Eddie Howe.
He's become an indispensable member of the starting lineup after it initially looked like he might struggle.
Many fans questioned whether he and Bruno Guimaraes would ever be able to play alongside each other, but the pair worked it out, and now you'd never know there was a time that was, at one time, a genuine concern.
