Tonali 'was sad in first weeks' at Newcastle after leaving Milan
Quick summary
Sandro Tonali has admitted he felt sadness in his first weeks at Newcastle United following his departure from AC Milan in the summer of 2023.
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Attributed to original sourceSandro Tonali ‘was sad’ for the first few weeks when he first left Milan for Newcastle United, said his agent, but the Premier League and then Tottenham Hotspur ‘proved the right choice.’
The Italy midfielder grew up supporting the Rossoneri from nearby Brescia and jumped at the chance to join them when they called, going on to be part of the team that won the Serie A title.
So when the huge offer arrived for him to move to Newcastle United, the player was hesitant.
Tonali unsure about Newcastle United move NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton at St James’ Park on February 28, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) “We made the first step because we realised that Milan were becoming different,” agent Beppe Riso told the Colpi da Maestro podcast.
“I know Milan well, and this was not giving the same sensations as that historic club. Talking to Sandro, we considered that going to the Premier League was a fascinating challenge. He had courage to go, because he was one of the most important players in the Scudetto-winning side, but he was a visionary.”
The move to England was not entirely without problems, as the representative admits it took a while to settle in Newcastle.
“It was very difficult for him, in the first few weeks he was sad, but he got a handle on things and made his mark, as always.”
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Newcastle United FC and Qarabag FK at St James’ Park on February 24, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) There are reports the overall price that Newcastle United paid to Milan in the summer of 2023 was €67m plus add-ons.
That was then later dwarfed by the €108m that Tottenham Hotspur shelled out to purchase the same player three years later.
“It was a crazy move for the numbers, but also for the responsibility,” added Riso.
“When you talk to Sandro and explain your vision, you take responsibility. It was complicated during those first few weeks when I saw how sad he was, but after a while he got used to it and it proved to be the right choice.”
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 01: Italy international Sandro Tonali of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring a goal during the Sydney Super Cup match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham at Accor Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images) Tonali has a history of taking time to settle, as he struggled when first making the step up from Brescia to Milan too.
“He didn’t do that well the first year, but you could sense in his attitude that he was different from the other lads. When you get close to him, you recognise he is a champion and a great man.”
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What happened
Sandro Tonali has opened up about the emotional difficulty of his early weeks at Newcastle United, describing a period of sadness after leaving AC Milan in the summer of 2023. The Italy international has since established himself as a key figure in Eddie Howe's midfield. His reflections come as a retrospective look at the settling-in phase of a high-profile Premier League move, with the player now comfortable in the North East and integrated into the squad.
Chance analysis
Tonali's candid admission is a familiar chapter in modern transfer stories: a young star leaves his boyhood club, steps into a foreign league, and wrestles with the emotional cost before finding his feet. The fact that he has spoken about it openly and warmly, with the benefit of hindsight, is a signal that the transition worked. For Newcastle, the Italy international has matured into a deep-lying playmaker whose vision and composure are central to how the team builds attacks out of midfield.
No current effect on team selection or availability; confirms Tonali is now settled at Newcastle after an initially difficult adjustment.