According to rumors in Italy, Newcastle may suspend Sandro Tonali’s wages and sue AC Milan for the midfielder’s 10-month suspension from the game. Due to Milan’s summer transfer of the Italian, the Premier League team may file a lawsuit against Milan.
The Magpies qualified for the Champions League this season and spent £64 million on Tonali in the summer. But due to a lengthy ban, the 23-year-old won’t be allowed to play until July 2024.
While Tonali was still a player for Milan, it was discovered that he had wagered on football games, including ones featuring his old team. Now, Newcastle will be without their priciest acquisition.
According to rumors in the Italian press, Newcastle intends to sue Milan for allegedly selling Tonali to them during the summer. The player’s agent has disclosed Tonali’s gambling addiction, which the Rossoneri maintain they were unaware of.
Newcastle apparently want to withhold the midfielder’s £7 million salary, per Calciomercato. Since Tonali’s punishment was confirmed on Thursday, the Tyneside club has not released a statement.
Tonali acknowledged having an addiction to gambling while Italian authorities were looking into him. The probe was started after Juventus rookie Nicolo Fagioli admitted to placing bets on games.
On Thursday, Italian FA President Gabriele Gravina said that Tonali’s camp and the player had come to a plea deal pertaining to a 10-month suspension. The 23-year-old will therefore miss the remainder of the season before his suspension is lifted in August of next year.
“An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral; therefore, it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done,” Gravina told reporters while in Italy.
“A plea agreement is planned to last for eight months, during which time the defendant will recover from their activities, engage in certain therapeutic activities, and testify in person at least sixteen times.
“A plea deal is predicted, favorable conditions are predicted, and the boys engaged above belief, so we need to adhere to the rules we have set for ourselves.”
Due to his ban, Tonali will be out of commission for the rest of the Premier League season. If the Azzurri qualify for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany next summer, he will likewise be ineligible to represent Italy.
