Sandro Tonali has shared that his wife had a better handle on London than he did when he first arrived to complete his move to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian midfielder joined Spurs from Newcastle United in a £100million deal in July — a club-record fee — despite not managing a single Premier League goal the previous season. His signing formed part of Tottenham’s £340million overhaul following back-to-back 17th-place finishes.
Before joining Spurs, Tonali had reportedly drawn interest from other big Premier League names, including Arsenal and Manchester City. Ultimately, Tottenham won out, helped by Tonali’s own desire to try living in London.
Now believed to be earning close to £275,000 a week, Tonali has already had a taste of how fierce his old club’s fans can be — he was given a hostile reception on his return to St James’ Park with Spurs, a match Newcastle went on to win 2-0.
Adjusting to a new city
In comments to Soccer Bible, Tonali acknowledged that the move to London has been a big shift from his time in Newcastle, though he’s found the adjustment smoother thanks to a friendly welcome and the support of his family. He described London as a much busier, very different environment, but said the people have made him feel at home, and having his wife — who already knew the city well — alongside him has made all the difference.
Advice for young players
Tonali also offered some words of encouragement for up-and-coming footballers, urging them to hold onto their ambitions no matter what.
He pointed to his own journey as an example, having set his sights early on playing in Serie A before working his way to the Premier League, which he regards as the top league in world football. His message to youngsters was straightforward: keep dreaming big, and never let go of those goals throughout your
career.
