Italy legend Marco Materazzi has encouraged Sandro Tonali to remain at Newcastle United despite reported interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Tonali has attracted attention following his breakout season at Newcastle, both in the Premier League and the Champions League, with multiple Big Six clubs monitoring the midfielder as they assess potential summer targets.
Speaking during the international break, Materazzi made clear he believes Tonali should weigh loyalty and long-term
development before considering a move.
“Sandro Tonali can play in any team in Italy and England but he has to decide if he wants to stay at Newcastle United because they believed in him,” Materazzi said. “The city and the fans and the club believed in him and stuck by him. He has to think about that too, not just whether he could play for Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United. I would like him to stay at Newcastle and build his legacy.”
Materazzi referenced the backing Tonali received during difficult periods amid his gambling suspension and suggested that commitment from Newcastle’s side should factor into the midfielder’s decision.
Any potential move, however, would depend on Newcastle’s stance and whether or not other clubs are willing to meet the asking price set by the Magpies come July. It’s fair to assume NUFC will demand a significant fee if they were to consider a sale, which could complicate negotiations and simply keep Tonali in Tyneside by default.
