Tonali agent: Newcastle move aimed at Arsenal or Man City switch

Sandro Tonali remains in demand across Europe, and his agent Giuseppe Riso says the move to Newcastle was always intended to lift the midfielder into the top tier of the English game. Riso pointed to links with Arsenal and Manchester City and argued the transfer was designed to turn Tonali into a global star.

"Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England: to try to make him a star player. I think he's the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world," he said. Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for an estimated fee of €70 million on a five-year contract, becoming the most expensive Italian player in history.

Riso said Newcastle’s financial backing and the chance to play in a higher-level league were primary drivers. "The deal came about because a club like Newcastle... with unlimited financial resources had decided to invest in Sandro. We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league," he explained.

England, Newcastle

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