Sandro Tonali faces Newcastle United for the first time since joining Tottenham Hotspur for £100million.
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Robert De Zerbi has confirmed Sandro Tonali will start against Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
The Italian midfielder started Spurs’ 3-0 Premier League opening day defeat at Brentford last weekend but was left out of the squad for their 5-1 Carabao Cup second round win over Charlton Athletic on Wednesday night.
In his post-match press conference, De Zerbi confirmed that Tonali is not injured and was instead working on his “physical condition” in preparation to start against his former club.
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Sandro Tonali will start against Newcastle United
"Sandro was in a plan to work with Marco Senesi yesterday, very strong, to improve their physical condition,” De Zerbi said. “Sandro has to work to feel better in terms of physical condition, but Saturday he will play in the first XI, without problems."
Tonali faces the Magpies for the first time since completing his £100million move to Spurs, and is expected to get a mixed reception from the travelling supporters.
Many were left disappointed at the 26-year-old’s decision to jump ship after supporting him through his 10-month betting ban, which he received just a few months after joining from AC Milan for £55million.
Tonali resumed playing at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign and helped the club to end their 56-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup, as well as qualify for the Champions League, before leaving following last season’s 12th-place finish in the Premier League.
His agent, Giuseppe Riso, had publicly been drumming up interest in Tonali since January and despite name-checking the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, he joined Spurs, who have finished 17th in back-to-back Premier League seasons.
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Ahead of facing Newcastle, Tonali told Sky Sports: “A mix of emotions. I love the people there. With me, they were amazing. Every single day, from the first season.
“I think we were a little bit more nervous and tense, but I love all the people there. The crowd there, the stadium there, I think it's one of the most beautiful in England. My time there was amazing.
“When I signed for Newcastle, after eight games I was banned. They showed me love like my mum and my dad. I said to my agent that I wanted the best deal for them because they deserve everything.”