Sandro Tonali seeks return to "Milan": reasons behind struggles at "Newcastle"

The 24-year-old Sandro Tonali desires to return to "Milan" as "Newcastle" is unable to meet his ambitions. Discover more about his challenges in England and successes with Italy's national team.

Reports suggest Sandro Tonali is eager to ‘return to his beloved "Milan"’ as the management at "Newcastle" fails to meet the player's expectations amid whispers of a ‘fatal downsizing’. Tonali missed the majority of his debut season at "St. James' Park" after receiving a ten-month suspension for betting rule violations and has been sparingly utilized under Howe this term.

Having started only six of his available 13 Premier League matches, he has failed to find the back of the net in any of his 15 appearances this season, adding merely two assists. The only goal he scored since his last season's opener in a stunning 5-1 victory over "Aston Villa" was while playing for his national team.

Currently, Tonali has become a key part of Luciano Spalletti’s squad, starting all Nations League fixtures and scoring the sole goal against Belgium. Gazzetta dello Sport notes that his national team role has intensified his desire for more club-level playing time. "Newcastle" is reportedly ‘disheartening’ him, and he desires ‘return to his beloved "Milan"’.

It's reported that "Milan" is enthusiastic about having him return to their plans after selling him to "Newcastle" for £55 million in the summer of 2023. The report also mentions that Howe regards his contribution as inadequate, unable to match the player’s ambitions. With Tonali angling for an exit, even the fans start murmuring about a ‘fatal scaling down of goals within the Saudi property’.

Earlier this year, in discussing his tough English debut, Tonali admitted: ‘Last year was a tough but productive journey. I will always carry the memory of my year off the field because it’s important not to forget. When a player trains all week without his ultimate goal — the game — he finds a sense of emptiness within himself. The first year away from home, without official matches, was not easy, but maintaining fitness was a challenge I took seriously.'

Howe dismissed rumors of the midfielder's possible January departure earlier in the season. ‘That news is new to me. It’s not something I’m contemplating. I’m trying to assimilate Sandro into the team after his ban,’ Howe stated. ‘He performed excellently the last few games. I’ve been pleased with his acclimatization to the team. New relationships are forming. It’s not just about the player fitting into the team, but also how the players around find harmony with Sandro. This development satisfies me.’