Sandro Tonali has returned to training with Newcastle United after receiving a 10-month ban from playing football. He was banned for breaching Italian betting regulations during his time at AC Milan before his £52 million transfer to Newcastle over the summer. This ban effectively ends his first season at the club, with his expected return date set for the end of August 2024.
Magpies head coach Eddie Howe sought further clarification on what activities Tonali can participate in during his ban. As a result, Tonali is now back training with the first-team. He can engage in training ground intra-squad friendly matches, although the club is still waiting for confirmation on whether he can participate in friendly matches with other clubs.
Howe acknowledged that Tonali’s 10-month period on the sidelines could be a challenging and somewhat isolating experience for the young midfielder. He stated, “He’s training with us. He’s started that journey, which can be quite solitary because we’re currently playing many games, and a lot of his sessions are individual or with small groups. It will be a mental test for him to come through this 10-month period as a better player, and it’s our job as coaches to support him during this challenging time.”
Due to his ban, Tonali has missed recent matches for Newcastle, including a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 3-0 win against Manchester United.