When Newcastle signed Sandro Tonali for £55m in 2023, they recruited one of the hottest properties in Italian football.
Dubbed 'the new Andrea Pirlo', bringing the Italy international to Tyneside was a major coup and a signal of intent that reflected the club's growing ambition. The transfer of Tonali coincided with the club's preparations for their first appearance in the Champions League after 20 years.
New signings are often given a bed-in period, but when Tonali scored his first Newcastle goal against Aston Villa in the first leg, he appeared to have settled into his new home at St James' Park.
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Tonali spoke to Sky Sports News in September, opening up about his 10-month suspension
Unfortunately, the 440 minutes played in his debut season would only serve as a teaser of what was to come. The 10-month ban for the betting breach meant Newcastle were without Tonali from October 2023 until the first month of this season.
Newcastle, who achieved their highest Premier League finish in fourth place the previous season, limped to seventh place in his absence. They were also knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in both domestic cup competitions.
But now Tonali is back and belatedly finding a home in Newcastle.
Monday, December 30, 6:30 p.m
Start at 20:00
Patience after 10 months in the dark
Tonali describes the 10 months he spent suspended as a “low” period in his career, but he had the support of his teammates to see him through.
“The first month was difficult,” Tonali said Sky Sports News after scoring twice as Newcastle beat Brentford to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
“But I found a great team and great people off the field. The bad times were a little tough, but from January to August the time (felt) a little faster. I was happy, I'm happy now.”
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Sky Sports News' Keith Downie talks to Newcastle midfield duo Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes after their Carabao Cup quarter-final win
In scoring his brace, Tonali found the back of the net for the first time since his goalscoring debut in August 2023. However, while the goals represented a supposed turning point in his personal fortunes, despite returning at the start of this season, Tonali has struggled to carve out a place in the side. Amid Newcastle's early season inconsistency, Tonali's return was not planned.
Until mid-December, Tonali was winless in the six Premier League games he had started. Newcastle picked up just four points in those games, suffering defeats to Chelsea and Brighton, while also handing the lead to Crystal Palace during that time.
Despite struggling for form and rhythm in Newcastle's starting 11 with Sean Longstaff preferred by Eddie Howe, Tonali was booed by the Magpies boss as he was replaced.
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Tonali hits the net twice as Newcastle see off Brentford in the Carabao Cup
Finding balance in midfield
Tonali has found a happy place in his new role in Newcastle's midfield. At the start of the season, Bruno Guimaraes operated as the deepest midfielder, while Tonali occupied an area higher up the pitch.
The pair have now found a working medium with Guimaraes now playing further forward, predominantly on the right as a number 8, while Tonali sat as a number 6.
Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes have established a new balance in midfield in the last month
“We are very complimentary,” Guimaraes said Sky Sports News.
“It's good for the team. We never hold our position, we always try to rotate our positions so we don't get marked, so I think the gaffer found a way to use our position to benefit the team.
“Sometimes I'm No. 8, sometimes he's No. 6, and sometimes I'm No. 6. We both have the same style of play.”
Howe has chopped and changed the midfield this season, seeking the golden balance between back four coverage and attacking support.
Facing the game in central midfield, Tonali allows the likes of Guimaraes and Joelinton to influence further games with an added sense of security reflected in their performances against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, Leicester and Ipswich.
The Newcastle boss shares Guimaraes' view on his strengthening midfield and Tonali's performances.
“I'm excited about how the three looks in midfield,” he said after Newcastle thrashed Leicester 4-0 to end their winless streak.
“We're starting to see the best of Sandro Tonali. I thought his athleticism was very good and he's just very intelligent with the ball, makes good decisions.”
It's early days and tougher tests lie ahead, but Newcastle's new-look midfield, led by Tonali, may just give Eddie Howe's side the platform to renew their fightback and upset the status quo at the top of the Premier League.
Watch Man Utd v Newcastle on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event on Monday 30 December from 7pm; beginning at 8 p.m