Sandro Tonali Details Why He Chose Tottenham Transfer Over Return To Italy

Sandro Tonali has revealed that a swift ten-minute conversation with Roberto De Zerbi convinced him to complete a blockbuster transfer to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, despite lingering temptation to return to his homeland in Italy.

The 26-year-old midfielder made the switch south from Newcastle United in a club-record deal that could reach up to £100million in add-ons, eclipsing the arrival of Mateus Fernandes earlier in the window. While Tonali admitted he initially preferred a move back to Serie A, he explained that interested Italian clubs could only manage his wage demands rather than meet Newcastle's steep transfer fee.

The Brescia Connection

The crucial breakthrough in negotiations hinged on a shared bond between player and manager. Both men hold deep ties to the northern Italian city of Brescia—Tonali began his senior career there, while De Zerbi is a boyhood supporter who also played for the club.

Speaking about their pivotal initial dialogue, Tonali recalled: “We spoke about Brescia, about the difficult situation facing our club. When you are happy after a 10-minute chat, it's everything, everything is perfect. I spoke with my wife—this was the first thing. We wanted to change our life, but not just for the city, we wanted to change everything. We spoke with two clubs.”

Immediate Impact Under De Zerbi

Despite rival interest from Manchester City, Tonali’s first impression of Tottenham's project proved decisive. After discussing the sporting vision with De Zerbi and sporting director Johan Lange, the Italy international knew instantly where his future lay.

“I spoke with Tottenham and the first impression is a big thing. My first impression was really positive,” Tonali added. “I spoke after two minutes with my wife and my family and I said probably it will be one of my best decisions of my career.”

With Tottenham backing their head coach significantly in the market—having also secured full-back Andy Robertson and targeted further attacking reinforcements—De Zerbi’s persuasive pitch has successfully landed one of Europe's most sought-after midfielders in north London.