Sandro Tonali quizzed by Italian media on whether he is leaving Newcastle United | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali is on international duty.

Two World Cup group qualifiers, away to Norway on Friday, then home to Moldova on Monday.

The Italian media and footballing public were stunned when one of their best homegrown talents left Serie A at such an early age for the Premier League, joining Newcastle United for £55m from AC Milan in summer 2023.

Ever since, there has been a concerted media campaign in Italy, to try to convince themselves and the football fans that Sandro Tonali will return to play his club football in Serie A.

Some quite ludicrous and laughable claims, that the player is desperate to leave Newcastle, that the club would be happy to sell the midfielder at a loss, or even let him go to an Italian club on loan, claims he is really unhappy on Tyneside, and so on.

Indeed, the better and better that Sandro Tonali has played for Newcastle United (and Italy), the more bizarre the claims have become that the midfield star will swap NUFC for Serie A.

As so often happens on international duty, the domestic media don’t want to just talk about the upcoming internationals, they are desperate to quiz players about their club football.

Sandro Tonali talking to Sky Sports Italia and asked if he is going to leave Newcastle United:

“I’m happy where I am [with Newcastle United].

“I have found people who care about me and I care about them.

“I don’t want to break any of the bonds I have built [at Newcastle United].

“I am happy where I am.”

Sandro Tonali also talking about the experience of winning his first trophy, the League Cup, as a Newcastle United player:

“It was beautiful because it was hard.

“We weren’t the favourites and we never really had been.

“We beat Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.

“We weren’t the favourites in almost every match, but it was special also, because when an unexpected team wins, all eyes turn to them.

“It was amazing to do it with a team that hadn’t done it [won a domestic trophy] in 70 years, with incredible fans.”

Great to hear Sandro Tonali talking so passionately about Newcastle United and how happy he is at the club.