Tonali ‘struck’ by Newcastle fans’ behaviour during betting ban: ‘The last thing I expected’ | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali admitted he was ‘struck’ by the behaviour of Newcastle fans and wanted to ‘thank’ them for how they reacted to the midfielder’s gambling ban, which kept him out of action for 10 months.

The Italy star joined the Premier League outfit from Milan on a hugely lucrative deal worth around €60m, but he was found guilty of forbidden betting practices less than three months into his first season at the new club.

However, the affection and lack of judgment that he felt from his fans was ‘the last thing’ Tonali expected, as he was allowed to roam the city and go to the stadium to follow his club during his time on the sidelines without anyone referring to what had happened.

Tonali thanks Newcastle fans for ‘unexpected’ behaviour

“Let’s start with thank you,” Tonali told Sky Sport Italia in an interview.

“I’ve said it already and I’ll keep saying it for a long time, because the behaviour of Newcastle’s fans was unexpected.

“Here, the fans don’t judge anyone, not a single player. Even when I went to the stadium to watch games or walked around the city, I didn’t feel judged by anyone.

“They would shake my hand; this really struck me, and it was certainly the last thing I expected from Newcastle’s fans at that time.

“Many aspects of my life have changed, but I’m very well, both on and off the field. I think that’s truly the most important thing. My relationships with people have also changed a lot, so these things beyond football make all the difference.”

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC, in Newcastle, Britain, 02 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ADAM VAUGHAN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos, ‘live’ services or NFTs. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Tonali returned to action both for Newcastle and Italy when his ban ended in August 2024, and he has since played 11 games across all competitions for his club, delivering two assists. Also, he has started all of Italy’s four Nations League fixtures he was called up for, managing two more assists against France and Israel.

The 24-year-old was recently praised for how he came on against Nottingham Forest to help his side secure a 3-1 victory last weekend.