Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali says he took comfort helping other problem gamblers tackle their issues during his 10-month ban for breaching betting rules. Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for £55m, was banned by the Italian Football Federation last October for breaking rules while playing in Serie A. The ban applied globally after being endorsed by world governing body Fifa. Having served his punishment, the 24-year-old could return to action on Wednesday, when the Magpies travel to Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Speaking to the club's television channel, Tonali said: "Especially in the first three months, I met a lot of people with ordinary jobs, especially in Newcastle, who had this problem and who had never spoken before now. They did so when it all came out, when the articles came out and my problem was made public, so after this they decided to get help and stop bottling things up, so this made me very happy."
As well as his suspension, Tonali was ordered to complete an education programme and made 16 trips back to Italy to talk to the game's next generation about the dangers of gambling. And knowing his case has helped both members of the public and others in the game confront their problems delivered an unexpected silver lining to a difficult period.
"These people got help just by talking, at first by talking but then with another one thousand ways," he added. "The first step, the biggest step is being able to talk about this huge thing you're carrying inside of you that you've never done before and you don't have the courage. You have this enormous sort of block and this is the biggest step to take to resolve this problem."
Tonali also expressed thanks for the support he has received from those inside the club and their fans. "I'm happy because it's the first time after 10 months and I'm feeling good because I know the team was here with me and the fans were here with me and I have never been alone in these 10 months," he added. "It was very, very, very difficult in October, November and December, the first three months, and now I feel it's a new time. A footballer lives for [matchdays], so it was hard work. I did work, though. I trained every day, even more than when I was playing."
Tonali, who is the Magpies' second-most expensive signing, made 12 appearances for Eddie Howe's side before the ban was imposed. And Howe, who has confirmed that the Italy international will travel to the City Ground, said Tonali would experience a "range of emotions" on his return.
"When you have a long time out, you have a long time to analyse and reflect. Now it is just back to doing what he loves. It will be an incredible release for him," Howe said. "The microscope is on everybody and it will be on him for a period of time. He understands that and we understand that. It is just about small steps. He is fit, he just hasn't had the match [practice] - the most important thing with the game time. "He has done everything else - he has worked incredibly hard to be on top of his fitness. He has to play to his strengths and not do anything too out of the ordinary."
Tonali's Time Away: A Period of Growth and Reflection
Tonali's 10-month suspension for illegal betting ends today and the Italian midfielder is available for an EFL Cup clash against Nottingham Forest. According to Gazzetta, Tonali will also be included in the Italy squad for Nations League games against France and Israel in September.
"I’m happy because it’s the first time after 10-11 months," Tonali told Newcastle’s official website. "I feel good as I know the team and the fans have always been with me. I’ve never been alone, and it’s so important because I was in difficulty in the first three months and now I feel it’s a new time after ten months. This is another point of my life, not only for me but also for my family and friends. I have a great team behind me. This is so important. It’s the first thing in my life."
During the 10-month ban, Tonali treated his gambling addiction and made 16 public appearances in Italy to raise awareness of gambling disorder.
"I came back to Italy 16 times for 16 meetings with the federation and kids," he said. "It’s important for me and young players because this problem is a problem for life. I’m lucky to work in football because I don’t have some problems that normal people have. Wake up in the morning, go to work…it’s the same problem, but life is so different, so these meetings were so important. Young players in Italy helped me. I spoke with them and everyone for therapy and everyone helped me. I want to help people struggling before me. I am lucky because I can play after ten months, my life is the same. I come back to my life with my family, friends, fans and the team. For normal people, life can change, and this is a big difference."
Tonali's Perspective on Recovery and Support
How can he help people facing the same problem?
"Just talking. Talking helps a lot," the Italian midfielder replied. "Especially in the first three months I met a lot of people with ordinary jobs, especially in Newcastle, who had this problem and had never spoken before now. And they did so when it all came out. When the articles came out, my problem was made public. After this, they decided to get help and stop bottling this up. So this made me very happy. These people got help just by talking. At first, talking. Then, with the other one thousand ways, the first step, the biggest step, is being able to talk about this huge thing that you are carrying inside you that you’ve never done before and you don’t have the courage to do. You have this enormous sort of block. This is the biggest step to take."
The Road Back to the Pitch: Tonali's Dedication
How did he prepare for his return to the pitch?
"Ten months is a long time, especially because a footballer lives for Sundays. It was hard, but I trained every day, even more than when I was playing," he explained. "I was lucky enough to find all the people who work here at Newcastle who were always by my side and close to me. This really helped me a lot—from the first day in October to today. I had constant support from everyone: the coach, JT [Jason Tindall], and everyone else on the team. But also the chefs, cleaning guys, and secretaries—all of them. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t show me their support, the same as with the fans. They gave me the same love they’d have given me if I had been for ten years. And I’d only just arrived a few months previously. This really made me think a lot. It also made me realise what the Newcastle fans are made of.
"In October and November, the first months. Difficult months. I couldn’t play. In the first game against the Wolves, I was there with the team, and Bruno and Joelinton were the first people helping me all night before the game," the former Milan star continued. "Before the game, it was difficult to stay with me because of this problem. Bruno and Joe are top players and top people for me. I like the Brazilian guys, not just because they helped me, but because they helped the team too. I like this. It’s so important for me to come back to play. I am feeling good. Mentally and physically. I like to play in the training ground too, also friendly games because I need some minutes to be then able to play 90 minutes in the league."
Tonali: A New Player, New Beginnings
Tonali hasn’t only practised his football over the last ten months but also his English. "I learned English in the training ground. First, one month with the teacher, then in the training ground with the players, especially Bruno and my physio," he said. "Bruno speaks Spanish and understands Spanish. He speaks English or Spanish with me. He was my translator for the first two-three months.
"I’m excited because I think I am a new player, like a new transfer. I played eight games last season. It was so difficult for me to play eight games and then don’t play for ten months. I am excited to be here in Newcastle and not another place because there is a top team and top fans, and I can’t wait to go back on the pitch."
Tonali joined Newcastle in an €80m deal from Milan in 2023 and is under contract with the Magpies until June 2028.
The Return of Sandro Tonali: A New Chapter for Newcastle
Eddie Howe believes Sandro Tonali is on a mission to repay Newcastle’s trust as the Italy midfielder prepares to return from a 10-month suspension at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
Tonali’s ban for breaches of Italian betting regulations derailed Newcastle’s season and Howe is hoping the midfielder, the club’s marquee £53m signing from Milan last summer, will swiftly make up for lost time, starting with the Carabao Cup tie.
“I don’t know if debt is the right word but Sandro will naturally feel he wants to repay everyone here for the trust we’ve shown in him when we signed him,” said the Newcastle manager, who has offered Tonali support during the suspension. “We’ve tried to support the human rather than treating him as a footballer, first and foremost. I’ve seen enough of Sandro [in training] all these months to back his ability. I still love the player.”
The 24-year-old will continue to make regular trips to Italy for counselling and receive help from Newcastle’s club psychologist, Dr Ian Mitchell, but Howe turned slightly equivocal when asked how he could prevent Tonali from gambling in future.
“That’s a complex question,” the manager said. “I don’t want to go into Sandro’s individual situation because that’s his private life and situation that he will continue to work on. But he is getting care from the club. That will be a continuous thing for Sandro and communication is vital in this respect. His football career is resumed and hopefully that is a stimulus in itself to help him.”
Howe has been impressed by Tonali’s reaction to the ban. “He’s a very strong guy, he’s handled this situation so well. He’s shown real strength, dignity, integrity. Because he’s been isolated at times it hasn’t always been easy for him. He’s had some low moments and some lonely moments where the team has been playing. I think we’ll get a different player back, a stronger player mentally, someone who will enjoy his football and probably appreciate every moment because it has been taken away from him for a long period of time. Sandro’s not outwardly expressive. He’ll be calm, cool and collected tomorrow but I’m sure that, inside, he can’t wait to wear that shirt again. Playing again will be a tremendous release for him.”
Medical professionals distinguish between gambling addicts and problem gamblers but, when asked which group Tonali belonged to, Howe demurred: “I’m not going to go there.”
He was more forthcoming when it came to the midfielder’s adjustment to life in north-east England. “Sandro’s really well liked by his teammates,” Howe said. “I’ve seen him form really strong friendships, a really good social network. He has people he can rely on to talk to and really good role models. That’s so important for your future success. Certainly he looks at home here now.”
Tonali's Comeback: Expectations and A Look Back
After a 10-month suspension for betting offences, the Italy international is racing against lost time and has told people at the club he is determined to make amends by winning trophies.
Tonali was the statement signing last summer who rapidly became a mishap. “The right player, the right character, the right position, the right fit,” a leading source told The Athletic last year (like others quoted in this piece, they spoke anonymously to discuss club strategy). Shortly afterwards, it went wrong, and a leading figure at St James’ Park said bluntly: “Sandro’s ban has absolutely f***** us.”
That unguarded comment came at the height of Newcastle’s struggle with injuries, when the sight of Tonali training every day was a morale-sapping reminder of what they were obliged to do without. The comment did not reflect the club’s supportive attitude towards their £55million ($72.6m at current rates) signing from AC Milan.
Newcastle believe the returning ‘Tonali 2.0’ is a significant upgrade. He speaks English well and is settled. The next step for the 24-year-old — better late than never — is to become integral. Second time around, Newcastle “have a quicker and better player”, another source told us. “He will be a difference-maker.”
Thursday, October 12. Everyone inside Newcastle remembers where they were when Tonali’s betting became public knowledge. Dan Ashworth, the club’s sporting director at the time, was still struggling to process what was happening when he called head coach Eddie Howe to relay allegations emerging in the player’s native Italy. “It was a total surprise to me, to him, to everybody,” Howe said.
Tonali was on international duty at the time but, alongside Nicolo Zaniolo, a fellow midfielder then at Premier League rivals Aston Villa on loan from Galatasaray in Turkey, he departed Italy’s training camp after being told he was being investigated by prosecutors in his homeland. Tonali was accused of gambling on matches from 2021-22 through to 2023-24, including bets made after his move to Newcastle was completed.
After admitting to betting and cooperating fully — his agent, Giuseppe Riso, said his client suffered a “gambling illness” — Tonali was handed an 18-month suspension by the Italian Football Federation, eight months of which were commuted. The ban included eight months of rehabilitation as well as therapy and called on him to make 16 public appearances at Italian amateur clubs, federal training centres and addiction charities. Tonali was also fined €20,000 (£16,900/$22,500 at current rates).
In April, the English FA handed Tonali a further two-month suspended ban, a £20,000 fine and a warning about his future conduct for gambling on football matches between August 12 and October 12 last year. Tonali faced 50 alleged counts of placing bets, four on Newcastle matches, at least three of which he played in, and all for his side to win.
The suspended period of that two-month FA ban extends until the end of this season but, as of tomorrow (Wednesday, August 28), Tonali will be available to play for the first time since coming on as a second-half substitute against Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League group game on October 25.
Howe has described this summer’s transfer window as “the most difficult I’ve experienced” and Newcastle’s first-choice team is yet to be strengthened as Friday night’s deadline nears, but getting Tonali back will offer a measure of compensation.
The suspended Italian embraced a training plan that has kept him involved and motivated. It was tailored to tweak his game to better suit Howe’s demands, something that took others (notably January 2023 signing Anthony Gordon) time to adjust to.
Speed is a huge part of what Tonali has been working on at the club’s Benton training ground. Exercises monitored by a speed coach have helped him accelerate, decelerate, change direction and sprint at maximum output. Tonali’s running style was filmed and subtle adjustments were made to his action to improve its efficiency.
There has been extensive work with Newcastle’s sports science team, resulting in a bespoke weight-training programme. His endurance was established as an area for improvement — crucial, given Howe’s all-in approach. There have been regular individual and double sessions on days when the rest of the squad have rested or had time off. “His training performances have steadily improved and got even better the closer he’s got to his return,” Howe said last week.
All of this would have been of limited benefit if Tonali had sulked or not been willing to embrace this training regimen, but multiple people have attested to his “brilliant” attitude. As the months have turned to weeks and then mere days until he was cleared to return, Tonali has been repeating a mantra to his team-mates: “We’re nearly there.”
“Mentally, he’s been excellent,” Howe said. “He’s very low-maintenance. He’s been really supportive, making sure the team’s in the right place ahead of (worrying about) himself.”
Howe expects Tonali “to get up to speed pretty quickly” but nothing can replicate playing regularly and Tonali was not allowed to take part in any structured, FA-sanctioned matches. His only action has come via training games or unofficial friendlies without referees, such as one against Burnley of the Championship in July.
“There’s been no way to get him the games that he needs,” Howe said. “It’s been smaller than a match, unless we’re doing 11 vs 11 in training, but not with the regularity he needs. It will probably take him a while to get to his very best levels.”
Why Newcastle Signed Tonali: A Look at the Player's Strengths
To understand the level of expectation, it is worth revisiting why Newcastle signed him.
When Howe declared that he “fell in love” while watching the Italian, he was not slipping into uncharacteristic hyperbole. He consistently expressed that sentiment in private during Newcastle’s six-month pursuit, repeatedly professing to his staff that he was besotted with how Tonali played the game.
It was Tonali’s performances in the 2022-23 Champions League that impressed Newcastle most. The intensity of those matches is more comparable with Premier League games than those in Italy’s Serie A top flight, and Tonali shone during Milan’s run to the semi-finals.
In Howe’s mind, this was the elite player Newcastle required as they prepared to return to Europe’s top competition. Tonali, Howe was convinced, would take Newcastle to the next level in and out of possession.
Heading into the summer of 2023, the head coach had told his scouts to find a midfielder capable of playing as a No 6 and a No 8 to a first-rate standard. Most top-level midfielders excel in one of those positions, but finding an outstanding dual-role type also available at a price Newcastle could afford in an inflated market was challenging.
Although some supporters pushed for a pure holding midfielder to liberate Bruno Guimaraes to play as a No 8, Howe views the Brazilian as his ideal No 6; he does not want a deep-lying defensive player, but an influential technician, and that meant sourcing a versatile midfielder who could complement and cover for the Brazilian.
It was Andy Howe, now Newcastle’s assistant head of recruitment, who strongly championed Tonali internally and, together with his uncle Eddie, pushed hard for his acquisition.
The head coach envisaged Tonali primarily playing as a right-sided No 8 and Guimaraes as the No 6, but with them able to interchange, making Newcastle more fluid and unpredictable on the ball. But, given how crucial the latter is to the team, Howe also wanted a ball-playing alternative, in case of injury or suspension — or as a contingency should Guimaraes move on, given he was attracting interest from Europe’s top clubs.
A season’s worth of scouting reports — many conducted while watching Milan live — confirmed Tonali was the ideal fit. In possession, he was deemed technically proficient, comfortable using both feet, excellent at dead-ball delivery, tactically intelligent, able to provide clever switches in play and a dynamic, driving runner. Without the ball, he was seen as powerful, physically robust and capable of making great recovery runs. As Milan’s captain, Tonali’s leadership credentials — which he displays more through actions than words — were also attractive. Checks on his character were exemplary.
Yet Howe also saw significant room for improvement, which he outlined to Tonali when making his pitch for him to join Newcastle. He told him that, under his tutelage, he could transform the midfielder into one of Europe’s best. Tonali was taken by Howe’s honesty and persistence.
Had Newcastle failed to qualify for last season’s Champions League, the deal would not have happened; yet once they did, a six-week charm offensive, led by Howe, persuaded Tonali to agree to spend his prime years in England. Those conversations were crucial in enticing the midfielder to Tyneside from his boyhood club, where his father Giandomenico is a season ticket holder.
Ashworth led negotiations and a £55million deal was struck — a record for an Italian player. Inside Newcastle, the transfer was celebrated. Senior figures described Tonali as a “marquee addition” that they had been unsure was attainable. While the fee was the second-most expensive in the club’s history, it was less than half the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton & Hove Albion for midfielder Moises Caicedo later that summer. Given his greater experience than the then-21-year-old Ecuadorian, Tonali was deemed a relative bargain.
Although the signing has been questioned internally over the past 10 months, with an investigation into whether the club should have uncovered Tonali’s gambling while carrying out background checks, coaches are adamant he will be a long-term success. Having watched Tonali up close for a season, Howe is certain he chose the right player.
After turning 24 in May, and with four years left on his contract (and the option of a fifth included in its terms), Tonali has time to prove that faith is well placed.
The Unwavering Support for Tonali: Newcastle's Stance During His Absence
From the start, Newcastle showered Tonali with love.
There was that extraordinary moment after the 4-0 victory against Crystal Palace on October 21 (his most recent domestic appearance) when, with his ban looming, Tonali was ushered forward by his team-mates to accept a full-throated, emotional ovation in front of the Gallowgate End, a reception which made a lasting impression.
“That meant so much to him,” Amanda Staveley, one of the club’s co-owners during much of his ban, told The Athletic. “The way he was embraced by fans created something special.”
Internally, the message was the same. Tonali had been a high-quality signing and his suspension represented a huge blow to Newcastle’s hopes of competing across four competitions — particularly when that savage rash of injuries kicked in — but there was no judgement or anger. He was wrapped in a support network.
“There was never any blame and no recriminations,” Staveley said. “It was important he felt no shame. What he has suffered from is a disease and we didn’t want him to feel any stigma. I said, ‘You’ve come to a club where the fans will love you. You have come to the best place to get the most support. We’ll help get you through this and we’re going to be here for you. All of us’. It was important that we spent time with him. We invited him and his lovely partner out for dinner and introduced him to people. We made sure he was seen with us in the chairman’s suite at St James’, so that everybody could see and know that he was absolutely supported, particularly when there was all that media attention.”
Other parts of the stadium remained off-limits to Tonali; his ban kept him away from “red zone” areas on matchdays, such as the pitch itself, the tunnel, the dressing rooms and other technical areas. That’s why he was not included in Newcastle’s famous post-victory dressing-room group photographs.
Tonali’s attitude, and those of the people around him, made everything easier. He approached the club directly about taking a pay cut and according to a source familiar with the matter, “He said, ‘I should, I need to’, which just gives you a great insight into him as a human being.” Tonali’s submission to the FA, before his hearing in April, revealed his “net weekly football income has already been voluntarily reduced very substantially”.
There have been regular sessions with Dr Ian Mitchell, the club’s head of psychology, who was appointed last year. Living with an addiction is one thing and living without football another; in his three seasons at Milan, Tonali never missed more than four consecutive fixtures. In terms of the gambling, Howe has said, “I wouldn’t under or downplay a battle that he will have for the rest of his life, and we need to continue to give him the right support.”
Tonali has not been isolated. He speaks English fluently, having taken regular lessons, and can able to communicate freely with staff and team-mates. Juliette Pastore, his partner, was eager to move to England and has spoken publicly about how settled they are in the north east. He has been visible out and about, making friends in Newcastle’s Italian community and attending the annual ball for The Alan Shearer Foundation in February.
In May, Tonali visited Bari in his homeland to speak to high-school students and young footballers. “I was recently in a factory. I was able to reflect on those who work 10 hours a day, just to bring home a salary,” he said, as quoted by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “I understood many precious things. One above all: if a worker loses his job, his entire family would pay the consequences. Well, this is also why I consider myself lucky. I made a mistake, but I didn’t lose anything. Hiding behind the barriers of a problem is never the solution. We need to talk about it instead. Get help. My true wealth is not million-dollar contracts, but being surrounded by people who love me and continue to prove it to me every day.”
The time has occasionally dragged, of course. “He’s no doubt had lows and difficult moments, and he’s leaned on the strong support that he has,“ Howe said.
Although he could not play in either of Newcastle’s friendlies, Tonali travelled to Japan with the squad on their recent pre-season tour. One night, he and other players turned up at a fan event in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, drawing gasps from the room when they stepped on stage. In excellent English, Tonali spoke briefly but from the heart. This season would be a fresh start, a new beginning for him, he said, expressing a steely determination to repay Newcastle’s faith.
While it would be unfair in the circumstances to heap pressure on Tonali’s shoulders, Newcastle could do with an injection of drive and quality, whether or not it starts against Forest in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup second-round tie.
“Whenever you go through adversity, you find more strength than you realise you had,” Howe said. “It’s been a long wait for him. He’s been an excellent team-mate for the other lads. They will rally around him and help him in these early stages. For him and everybody connected with the club, this will be a big moment.”
