Newcastle star Tonali meets agent – But fans told “no need to worry”

Newcastle United fans can breathe easy after fresh reports out of Italy suggested midfielder Sandro Tonali’s future was being discussed. Late on Monday, Goal Italia claimed Tonali and his agent Beppe Riso held talks in Milan ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel. The implication was that Juventus’ interest in the 25-year-old may have been on the agenda, once again fuelling speculation of a possible Serie A return.

Yet Football Place sources insist the meeting should cause no alarm. Those close to the player describe the chat as “routine,” stressing that similar discussions are often held when the Italian national squad gathers in Milan. Crucially, Tonali is said to be very happy at Newcastle, where he believes Eddie Howe’s side can build on their recent success and compete for more silverware.

For the Magpies faithful, it will be a relief to hear that the midfielder’s commitment remains strong. Despite the Italian media’s constant attempts to link him back with Serie A ever since his 2023 exit from AC Milan, there is no suggestion from his own camp that he is engineering a move away.

Tonali signed a long-term deal running until 2028 when he joined Newcastle, meaning any departure would be extremely difficult to negotiate. Attempts to unsettle him are understood to come from intermediaries rather than from Riso or the player himself. Insiders believe much of the noise from Italy is simply “wishful thinking,” designed to manifest a potential return that Tonali himself is not pursuing.

Under Eddie Howe, the midfielder has become an integral part of Newcastle’s system. Since returning from his suspension in 2024, he has featured in every one of Italy’s 12 international fixtures. That level of consistency highlights his importance at both club and country level.

FootballPlace analyst John William believes the talk of Tonali leaving Newcastle is a distraction:

“Every international break seems to spark rumours about Tonali’s future. But the facts are clear — he’s under contract until 2028, he’s performing well for Newcastle and Italy, and he’s happy under Eddie Howe. This is Italian media chatter more than any genuine threat.”

Tonali will feature for Italy against Estonia and Israel in World Cup qualifiers before returning to Tyneside. Eddie Howe will be eager to see him come back in top condition ahead of Newcastle’s clash with Brighton on 18 October. Three days later, the Magpies face a crucial Champions League encounter against Benfica.

With his long-term deal and growing influence in midfield, Tonali looks set to remain central to Newcastle’s ambitions. Unless something dramatic changes, the Italian media’s speculation appears destined to remain just that.

👉 Should Newcastle fans ignore the constant Serie A rumours around Sandro Tonali — or do they still pose a long-term risk?