adminSandro Tonali’s anticipated departure from Newcastle United has stirred up plenty of discussion, with some suggesting that his move to Tottenham Hotspur is driven by more than just footballing reasons.
In a remarkable turn of events over just a few days, Tottenham managed to secure not one but two high-profile midfielders, spending a combined £185 million to bring both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali to the club.
Fernandes arrived for a club-record £85 million, though that mark was soon eclipsed when Spurs finalized a £100 million agreement with Newcastle for Tonali. While the deal hasn’t been officially confirmed, Tonali all but announced it himself last week during a stop in Milan ahead of his medical with Tottenham.
He stated: “We decided for a change, and we are ready for this new adventure. Newcastle wanted the best for me and we wanted the best deal for them. We are all happy and I’m ready for the new challenge.”
John Barnes believes Tonali’s switch to Tottenham is motivated by lifestyle
Despite Tonali framing the move as a pursuit of a fresh challenge, former Newcastle winger John Barnes contends that the decision isn’t strictly about football. Speaking to BetFair, as cited by Chroniclelive, Barnes suggested that lifestyle considerations—particularly the draw of living in London over the North of England—may have been a significant factor.
Barnes commented: “Except for Liverpool and Manchester United, it’s always been the same, for years and years and years, players playing anywhere north of Birmingham want to move to London.
“As much as Newcastle United are doing better than Tottenham, there are foreign players who would rather live in London.”
Tonali opens up on his reasoning behind joining Spurs
Barnes went on to argue that Tonali’s exit from Tyneside likely had more to do with personal and family preferences than professional ambitions. He elaborated to BetFair that overseas players often lack strong ties to any particular English club and are naturally attracted to London when the chance emerges.
He added: “Foreign players don’t have an allegiance to anywhere in England, even though a move to Liverpool or Manchester United is a bit different, so if a club from London comes calling, then they’re going to go.
“When people wonder why this move could happen, it’s nothing to do with football.”
Since then, Tonali has revealed that Roberto De Zerbi played a pivotal role in his choice to join Tottenham. When asked why he opted for Spurs over other interested clubs like Manchester City, Tonali pointed to both family considerations and De Zerbi’s involvement as decisive factors.
He explained: “Roberto De Zerbi did a great job in all of this. And for a life choice with family because we are coming from Newcastle and last year our life changed with the birth of our child so we decided to change a bit our life. De Zerbi made a great difference and did his job very well.”
admin
