Sandro Tonali has had a fairly quiet start to life at Tottenham, but Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford may well mark the moment things changed for the Italian midfielder.
From the first whistle, Tonali and his fellow midfielders had the upper hand over Manchester United’s central pairing of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans, with Tielemans in particular struggling to live with Spurs’ intensity in a tough first half. Even Bruno Fernandes, normally one of United’s key men, couldn’t make much of an impact. Tottenham’s point was well earned, especially as they had to fight back while down to ten men.
The display recalled the commanding form Tonali showed at Newcastle United. After a muted opening to his time in north London, the 26-year-old finally gave Spurs fans the performance they had been waiting for. Though Mateus Fernandes, a second-half substitute, was the player more closely tied to United’s transfer interest, Tonali had also been linked with a move to Old Trafford, and his showing was a reminder of what the Red Devils lack in the middle of the park.
Playing in a reshuffled midfield three with Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher, Tonali quickly became one of the match’s standout performers, driving Tottenham forward from deep with tireless energy. His influence was clearest in the late equaliser, when his dangerous inswinging cross found Dominic Solanke at the far post and the striker headed home to earn Roberto De Zerbi’s side a precious point.
The numbers back it up: one key pass, one big chance created, and two of three crosses completed. Defensively he made six ball recoveries and lost only two tackles or duels, while completing every dribble he tried as he carried the ball into advanced areas. It was exactly the all-round showing De Zerbi and the Spurs faithful have wanted since he arrived, and if he can keep it up, he could become a pillar of the midfield for years.
That form could have consequences elsewhere in the squad. Tottenham overhauled their group in the summer, with Tonali among the headline arrivals in a recruitment drive built around proven Premier League quality. The influx meant departures too, as the club reshaped the squad after a disappointing season, with several unsuccessful players leaving, some initially on loan.
Guglielmo Vicario and Kevin Danso were among those whose situations changed, but Pape Matar Sarr’s move to Juventus stood out as one of the more intriguing exits. Spurs signed him in 2021 for a reported £15 million, though he stayed at FC Metz for the rest of that season and only joined in the summer of 2022. Over the next four years he became a useful first-team option, featuring regularly in the Premier League in 2023/24 and 2024/25 under Ange Postecoglou.
With new midfield arrivals, though, his place in the plans was always going to be questioned. Tonali’s Old Trafford performance only intensifies the competition for places and could shape De Zerbi’s selection choices. For players like Sarr, the task is finding a way to re-establish their importance within Tottenham’s long-term project, particularly as the club continues to build its midfield around its newest signings.
