The second coming of Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali will return to competitive action tomorrow following his 10-month betting ban from football. In that time, he has watched on from the sidelines, undertaken rehabilitation, and paid a large fine. But crucially he has trained every available day.

The club have supported their player with Eddie Howe admitting he was in for ‘a difficult journey’ just days after the ban was extended worldwide on 27 October 2023. The boss later spoke about Tonali’s performances behind closed doors and confirmed at the Burnley pre-match press conference in May (seven months after his ban started):

‘He’s (Sandro Tonali) conducted himself in a really positive way. I’ve seen the hunger [to return] there all through the time. He’s done a lot of work alone, individual work, fitness work, gym work, we’ve worked on his speed, and covered loads of aspects of his game to try and help him.’

Tonali made only 12 appearances before the ban and, admittedly, he had been in and out of the team, but personally, he had already shown enough to put him in the same bracket as Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. (More on that later)

So, consider this piece a refresher onthe now 24-year-old, 15-times-capped Italy international who will very much be, as the cliché goes, ‘like a new signing’ when he returns for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup clash at Nottingham Forest.

Brecia, Milan and Winning Titles

Sandro Tonali made his professional debut as a 17-year-old for Brescia in August 2017 and went on to make 88 appearances, scored six goals, and helped them win Serie B in his second season (2018/19). Such was his form; he was linked with a move to Liverpool in February 2019.

Instead, he eventually signed for AC Milan, initially on a €10million loan in September 2020 before the move was made permanent for €15million the following summer. 2020/21 was a struggle, Tonali playing just 25 games (zero goals & assists)

During 2021/22 however (his second season) Tonali dazzled (36 apps,…

Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/08/27/the-second-coming-of-sandro-tonali/

Author : Jonathan Young

Publish date : 2024-08-27 07:15:14

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