Sandro Tonali signed for Tottenham exactly eight weeks ago.
On 6 July 2026. the Newcastle United midfielder leaving after three seasons at St James’ Park. Which was effectively only two seasons as the former AC Milan star was suspending for almost a year due to betting on football matches whilst playing in Serie A.
Spurs agreed to meet the £100m valuation Newcastle United were happy to sell the midfielder for.
Eyebrows were raised though at the choice of his new club. Sandro Tonali moving to Tottenham who had only dodged relegation by one league position in both 2024/25 and 2025/26.
A few weeks after signing for his new club, the Spurs player gave a very revealing interview.
Late July saw Sandro Tonali sensationally admitting that he had never wanted to join Tottenham
Sandro Tonai has now admitted weeks after signing, that he didn’t want to join Tottenham, the player revealing that he and his wife had been desperate to move back to Italy but found out that no Serie A club was willing or able to pay the transfer fee and huge wages that Tonali was demanding.
Sandro Tonali telling The Standard: “We had decided to come back to Italy [and join a Serie A club] but it was impossible for the money…”
The then Newcastle United star left with little choice but to join Tottenham, the only club that was interested in signing him AND that could afford his wage demands and transfer fee.
The reality is that in terms of clubs outside England able to afford such a financial package, you are probably only talking PSG and La Liga pair, Barcelona and Real Madrid. Clearly none of that trio interested.
So can you imagine the conversation when his agent informed Sandro Tonali of the only club that were willing to pay the money, more than doubling his wages and paying the transfer fee.
Agent: “Hey Sandro, exciting news, I have spoken to a huge Premier League club and they definitely want you. They believe that you will be a perfect fit for them.”
Sandro Tonali: “Tell me more.”
Agent: “They are one of the super Premier League Big Six!”
Sandro Tonali: : “Wow, that is brilliant, another clue please my friend?”
Agent: “They are a Premier League Big Six club from North London!”
Sandro Tonali: “One more clue?”
Agent: “They recently won their first trophy in a ‘little’ while but they tell me they are very confident that many more will follow with your help.”
Sandro Tonali: “I can’t thank you enough, all my dreams have come true. More than doubling my wages and my only question now is when do they want me to head to The Emirates for my medical?”
Agent: “It’s good but it’s not right, your guess was very close, it is the Naming Rights Here Stadium where you need to be at 9am tomorrow for your medical.”
Sandro Tonali: “……………………………………………………………………………”
Agent: “Sandro, hello, are you still there, speak to me please…”
On Saturday we saw a player who looked a shadow of himself compared to when at his best with Newcastle United. Spurs are a total mess and they have massively overpaid on their summer signings. The £100m for Sandro Tonali was astonishing really, no other club was going to offer anything like that. £85m on Fernandes who has played once for Portugal and is looking now to help relegate a third different club in three seasons, then £140m on two Manchester City reserves, including Savio who has somehow increased in value from £30m that Man City paid for him to now £80m after scoring two Premier League goals these past two years.
Never for one minute did Sandro Tonali imagine that his one and only option would be relegation fighters Tottenham when he made clear to Newcastle United that he was determined to move on so that he could more than double his wages and be competing in all competitions to win trophies…