What Sandro Tonali told Malick Thiaw about Newcastle after his arrival from AC Milan - Thanks, Sandro, we think
This summer, Newcastle United reunited former AC Milan teammates Sandro Tonali and Malick Thiaw when the German centre-back was finally signed by Eddie Howe after a long pursuit.
Eddie Howe had been trying for over a year to get Malick Thiaw to Newcastle, and finally, this summer, after a long chase and £35 million, he finally got his man.
Thiaw had to wait for his chance in the first team with Fabian Schar doing so well, but a blow to the head put the Swiss man out of action, and Thiaw was drafted in as cover.
Since then, the 23-year-old hasn't looked back, claiming that place as his own with a string of superb performances, which have also seen him called up for Germany again after a two-year absence.
Sandro Tonali paid Newcastle United a bizarre backhanded compliment to Malick Thiaw
Thiaw spoke to Planeta Milan about his move from AC Milan to Newcastle and whether Sandro Tonali had spoken to him ahead of the move, and while the midfielder didn't reach out before the transfer, what he told Thiaw about the Toon is ... well ... you judge for yourself.
“I decided to go to Newcastle and I am happy with that, Milan are a big club, so it was difficult, but in my view it was the right moment to try something new. So I listened to the proposal from Newcastle and in the end I said yes.
“No, I didn’t speak to him [Sandro Tonali] when I was in Milan. When I arrived in England, he explained Newcastle is a big city, the team is big, ok, not like Milan, but… it’s cute, and the fans are incredible.
“It’s hard to say which fans are more passionate, I mean, the Milan fans are incredible.
“Yes, I had three good years at Milan, but in the end, I didn’t really play that much. Allegri told me that I would’ve had a chance this season, but I wanted to try something different.”
Cute? ... CUTE?!
Newcastle United is 'cute'? We're not sure how to process that if we're being honest. It's kinda complimentary and also pretty condescending.
We can forgive Thiaw for his comments on the fans, as he was speaking to a Milan-based outlet, so it wouldn't have gone down too well if he'd said that the Toon Army blows the Milan fanbase out of the water.
Cute though? Seriously. Cute? Howay man!
