adminSandro Tonali Explains Why He Chose Tottenham Over Manchester City After Just Minutes of Talks
Sandro Tonali has revealed that it took him only 10 to 15 minutes of speaking with Tottenham Hotspur to realise they would be his next club, offering fresh insight into why he rejected interest from Manchester City in favour of a move to north London.
The Italian midfielder completed his switch from Newcastle United this summer after attracting attention from several top clubs, including Manchester City.
The Premier League champions had been monitoring the 26-year-old as part of their midfield recruitment plans under Enzo Maresca, with director of football Hugo Viana closely assessing the Italy international.
However, City never submitted a formal offer, and Tonali has now explained that Tottenham’s approach convinced him long before financial details became a deciding factor.
Speaking to Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill, Tonali said he and his wife had already decided they wanted a fresh start after last season and believed staying in England was the best option for both his career and family.
“England was our solution, and we found the best solution in England for me, my career, my football, my happiness and my family,” Tonali said. “I spoke with two clubs, and after 10 or 15 minutes I knew Tottenham would be my next team.”
He admitted that Tottenham’s professionalism and enthusiasm immediately stood out during negotiations.
“When we spoke with Tottenham, we decided that was the club for us. They spoke with 100 per cent passion and 100 per cent seriousness. My life outside football and my family were important, but Roberto De Zerbi and the sporting director made the biggest difference.”
Tonali also revealed that he contacted his wife almost immediately after the meeting because he already felt certain about the decision.
“After just a couple of minutes, I spoke to my wife and my family and said this could be one of the best decisions of my career. She told me I had complete control over the choice, but I wanted to involve her because it’s our life together.”
While Tottenham secured one of their marquee signings of the summer, Manchester City were left to continue exploring other midfield options.
City have already strengthened their squad with the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, while they remain interested in Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi as they continue reshaping their midfield.
Tonali’s comments highlight that, despite interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, the deciding factor in his transfer was not money or reputation but the conviction, ambition and vision shown by Tottenham during discussions—qualities that ultimately persuaded him to commit his future to Spurs.
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