Toотtenham have agreed to sign Sandro Tonali in a £100 million deal, but the midfielder’s own version of events is less about rupture and more about agreement. Speaking to television journalists in Milan while leaving the airport, Tonali said Newcastle wanted the best for him and he wanted the best deal for them. He also pointed to Roberto De Zerbi as a major influence on the decision.

Tonali's view of the deal

"Absolutely. We've decided to make a change, so we're ready for this new adventure," Tonali told express.co.uk.

He added: "Newcastle wanted the best for me and we wanted the best deal for them. So I think that once you go like this it is different, so we are all happy and I am ready for the new challenge."

That is the clearest line in this story. Tonali is not presenting himself as a player pushed out or a club forced into a sale, he is presenting it as a shared decision that suits both sides.

The timing matters too. Newcastle were informed of his wish to move through his agent Giuseppe Riso earlier this month, which points to a process that had already moved beyond rumour before the public comments in Milan.

Why Spurs backed the move

Tonali's form at Newcastle was not that of a player fading out. Across his last five appearances, he averaged 6.9 and played 420 minutes, which sits comfortably inside a spell where he remained a regular part of the side.

The wider club picture helps explain why Tottenham pushed ahead. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League with a 10-11-17 record, while Newcastle ended 12th with a 14-7-17 record. Tottenham have also been linked with a heavy midfield rebuild, with reports describing their summer spending in the area as heading towards £200 million after Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

There is one contested detail around the deal structure. Express.co.uk refers to it as a £100 million move, while other reports have broken it down differently. The part that is not really in doubt is Tonali's own stance, he is talking like a player who has already moved on and is ready for what comes next.

The immediate next step is Tottenham bedding him into a midfield that has been overhauled quickly, with the deal agreed and the player already speaking as if the switch is done.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →