Why Tonali’s ban could be a blessing in disguise for him and Newcastle

Suraj Radia

• 26 Oct 2023 17:36 BST
• 5 min read

Sandro Tonali has been handed a ten-month ban that will keep him out of action until next season but the Italian’s absence could prove to be beneficial in the long-run for both himself and Newcastle.

Tonali was suspended by Italian authorities after violating betting laws and he will be required to take part in eight months of rehab and recovery as part of his suspension, having admitted he was a gambling addict.

The 23-year-old is believed to be able to train with Newcastle and play friendlies during his absence but he will miss the European Championships next summer if Italy qualify, while authorities have stated that the ban could have been up to three years had Tonali not ‘gone above and beyond’ with his transparency throughout the process.

DETAILS: Fabrizio Romano reveals outcome of Tonali's ban

Newcastle have stood by their player and he was emotional during a lap of honour after his final Premier League appearance last weekend, although the loss of a player who the club spent €63 million on just three months ago is undoubtedly a bitter blow to Eddie Howe’s side.

Tonali has endured a tough time both on and off the pitch since his arrival, admitting he felt ‘lost’ in the first few weeks of his transfer and struggled to settle, which was perhaps evident by his inconsistent displays during his 12 appearances for Newcastle.

But with the fear of any further punishment no longer hanging over his head, combined with the pressure of being Newcastle’s joint-record signing, Tonali can now focus on adapting to life in England outside of football, while Howe and the Magpies may feel relieved had having more time to get the best out of their mercurial talent.

’Lost’ Tonali given time to find himself and his place in Newcastle

Eyebrows were raised when Milan sold Tonali this summer despite the midfielder saying he wanted to play his entire career at the club and Newcastle were seen as having pulled off a major coup with his signing.

Milan sources have denied the club having any previous knowledge of Tonali’s breaches despite Newcastle suggestions to the contrary, with the Serie A side pointing to the record amount received for an Italian player as the reason they sold rather than any potential looming ban.

And Milan’s loss was seemingly Newcastle’s gain when Tonali scored just minutes into his debut but he has struggled since then, with four of his last seven appearances having come from the bench.

While Tonali was dubbed as Howe’s ‘first choice’ target in the summer, his fit on the pitch has proven awkward, in part due to the language barrier which has seen Newcastle go against club policy to hire an interpreter in order to convey the manager’s tactical instructions.

However Tonali has also proven a stylistic mismatch with Bruno Guimaraes, with Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and the fit-again Joe Willock giving Newcastle more of a balance in midfield.

OPTIONS: Who could Newcastle sign to replace Sandro Tonali?

The ban for Tonali could be seen as a pivotal moment in his Newcastle career, with the player now having no choice but to acclimatise to his new surroundings by learning the language, building chemistry with teammates and adapting to English football and culture from afar.

Tonali is said to be grateful for the love from Newcastle and their fans, having shed tears upon his name being chanted, and his cameo against Dortmund during his final game was a performance of a man who felt indebted to his club and supporters.

Howe, meanwhile, will rue Tonali’s loss to his thin squad but will also see the benefits in keeping his midfield consistent instead of trying to give minutes to help his new signing adapt at the potential detriment to team cohesion.

Ultimately with Tonali just months into a five-year contract, the suspension is simply a speed bump rather than a fatal crash and it could be a case of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ for both player and club as the long journey to redemption begins.

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