Sandro Tonali ‘was sad’ for the first few weeks when he first left Milan for Newcastle United, said his agent, but the Premier League and then Tottenham Hotspur ‘proved the right choice.’

The Italy midfielder grew up supporting the Rossoneri from nearby Brescia and jumped at the chance to join them when they called, going on to be part of the team that won the Serie A title.

So when the huge offer arrived for him to move to Newcastle United, the player was hesitant.

“We made the first step because we realised that Milan were becoming different,” agent Beppe Riso told the Colpi da Maestro podcast.

“I know Milan well, and this was not giving the same sensations as that historic club. Talking to Sandro, we considered that going to the Premier League was a fascinating challenge. He had courage to go, because he was one of the most important players in the Scudetto-winning side, but he was a visionary.”

The move to England was not entirely without problems, as the representative admits it took a while to settle in Newcastle.

“It was very difficult for him, in the first few weeks he was sad, but he got a handle on things and made his mark, as always.”

There are reports the overall price that Newcastle United paid to Milan in the summer of 2023 was €67m plus add-ons.