What a relief that Newcastle United only lost Alexander Isak, rather than our best player | OneFootball

It was gutting as Newcastle United fans to lose Alexander Isak.

However, just think how much worse you would have felt if we’d lost our best player instead!

Arise Sandro Tonali, a prince among men.

It is quite amazing how much under the radar this brilliant player is, when it comes to journalists in the UK, pundits and whoever.

Sandro Tonali is simply an astonishing quality player and you can count his below par matches on one hand these past 12 months or so.

No wonder football fans and journalists in Italy are endlessly fantasising about ‘bringing him home’…

As a 21 year old in the 2021/22 season, Sandro Tonali inspired AC Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years.

In 2022/23, as a 22 year old he was key to AC Milan reaching the Champions League semi-finals and they were very unluck not to get past city rivals Inter and reach the final.

In 2023/24, a 23 year old Sandro Tonali ending up having a rest for most of that season after signing for Newcastle United.

In 2024/25, Tonali was inspirational from the moment his ban ended, within seconds of the Carabao Cup match kicking off at Nottingham Forest on his return to action, United had taken the lead with Sandro Tonali part of the passing move that ended with Willock scoring the opening goal.

Less than nine months later, Newcastle United had qualified for the Champions League and won their first trophy in 56 years.

Sandro Tonali played in all 36 Premier League matches last season after his ban ended (after the opening two NUFC PL matches) and also started all of the Carabao Cup matches apart from the AFC Wimbledon one.

Sandro Tonali was my 2024/25 Newcastle United player of the season.

I have a sneaking suspicion he may also end up the same this 2025/26 season, my NUFC player of the season, judged on what we have seen so far.

He is now 25 and arguably still not even at his peak yet as a player. When Sandro Tonali gets to 27 and 28, what an even better player he could be!!

Although he isn’t too bad just now…

Sandro Tonali can do everything, defensive cover, link up play, create chances, score goals…how on earth that one stayed out when hitting the post yesterday???

Tino Livramento is one of the quickest players I have seen and he looks it.

Sandro Tonali is even quicker BUT doesn’t look it. He just glides across the turf and it is a bit like a computer game, where suddenly he is on another part of the pitch and you think how has he got from A to B (a bit like Jimmy Nail in Spender when he was running around Newcastle!).

We saw it against Wolves on Saturday, yet more players finding they have been ‘Tonali’d’, thinking they are free in a dangerous position and suddenly the Italian genius is picking their pocket, taking the ball off them.

Long may that continue, in a Newcastle United shirt.

What he will help NUFC achieve this 2025/26 season, I can’t wait to find out.

Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Saturday 13 September 2025 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Woltemade 29

Possession was Newcastle 57% Wolves 43%

Total shots were Newcastle 16 Wolves 8

Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Wolves 3

Corners were Newcastle 10 Wolves 4

Touches in the box Newcastle 29 Wolves 23

Newcastle team v Wolves:

Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton (Willock 65), Barnes (Elanga 80), Woltemade (Osula 65), Murphy (Botman 95)

Subs:

Ramsdale, Hall, Thiaw, Krafth, Miley

(Match Report – Until someone reminds me it was the first of Nick Woltemade’s 200 goals for Newcastle United… Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Wolves 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United fixtures confirmed dates and times (All of the Champions League matches will also be available to watch on TV in the UK):

Thursday 18th September: Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona (8pm)

Sunday 21 September – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 24 September – Newcastle v Bradford (7.45pm) Sky Sports+

Sunday 28 September– Newcastle v Arsenal (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 1st October: Union SG vs Newcastle United (5:45pm)

Sunday 5 October– Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 18 October – Brighton v Newcastle (3pm)