Italy international Sandro Tonali explains what he learned during his time on the sidelines for a betting ban and thanks everyone at Newcastle for their support, especially two teammates.
Tonali’s 10-month ban for illegal betting ends today and the Italian midfielder is available for an EFL Cup clash against Nottingham Forest.
According to Gazzetta, Tonali will also be included in the Italy squad for Nations League games against France and Israel in September.
“I’m happy because it’s the first time after 10-11 months,” Tonali told Newcastle’s official website.
“I feel good as I know the team and the fans have always been with me. I’ve never been alone, and it’s so important because I was in difficulty in the first three months and now I feel it’s a new time after ten months. This is another point of my life, not only for me but also for my family and friends. I have a great team behind me. This is so important. It’s the first thing in my life.”
During the 10-month ban, Tonali treated his gambling addiction and made 16 public appearances in Italy to raise awareness of gambling disorder.
“I came back to Italy 16 times for 16 meetings with the federation and kids,” he said.
“It’s important for me and young players because this problem is a problem for life. I’m lucky to work in football because I don’t have some problems that normal people have. Wake up in the morning, go to work…it’s the same problem, but life is so different, so these meetings were so important. Young players in Italy helped me. I spoke with them and everyone for therapy and everyone helped me. I want to help people struggling before me. I am lucky because I can play after ten months, my life is the same. I come back to my life with my family, friends, fans and the team. For normal people, life can change, and this is a big difference.”
How can he help people facing the same problem?
“Just talking. Talking helps a lot,” the Italian midfielder replied.
“Especially in the first three months I met a lot of people with ordinary jobs, especially in Newcastle, who had this problem and had never spoken before now. And they did so when it all came out. When the articles came out, my problem was made public. After this, they decided to get help and stop bottling this up. So this made me very happy. These people got help just by talking. At first, talking. Then, with the other one thousand ways, the first step, the biggest step, is being able to talk about this huge thing that you are carrying inside you that you’ve never done before and you don’t have the courage to do. You have this enormous sort of block. This is the biggest step to take.”
How did he prepare for his return to the pitch?
“Ten months is a long time, especially because a footballer lives for Sundays. It was hard, but I trained every day, even more than when I was playing,” he explained.
“I was lucky enough to find all the people who work here at Newcastle who were always by my side and close to me. This really helped me a lot—from the first day in October to today.
“I had constant support from everyone: the coach, JT [Jason Tindall], and everyone else on the team. But also the chefs, cleaning guys, and secretaries—all of them. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t show me their support, the same as with the fans. They gave me the same love they’d have given me if I had been for ten years. And I’d only just arrived a few months previously. This really made me think a lot. It also made me realise what the Newcastle fans are made of.
“In October and November, the first months. Difficult months. I couldn’t play. In the first game against the Wolves, I was there with the team, and Bruno and Joelinton were the first people helping me all night before the game,” the former Milan star continued.
“Before the game, it was difficult to stay with me because of this problem. Bruno and Joe are top players and top people for me. I like the Brazilian guys, not just because they helped me, but because they helped the team too. I like this.
“It’s so important for me to come back to play. I am feeling good. Mentally and physically. I like to play in the training ground too, also friendly games because I need some minutes to be then able to play 90 minutes in the league.”
Tonali hasn’t only practised his football over the last ten months but also his English.
“I learned English in the training ground. First, one month with the teacher, then in the training ground with the players, especially Bruno and my physio,” he said.
“Bruno speaks Spanish and understands Spanish. He speaks English or Spanish with me. He was my translator for the first two-three months.
“I’m excited because I think I am a new player, like a new transfer. I played eight games last season. It was so difficult for me to play eight games and then don’t play for ten months. I am excited to be here in Newcastle and not another place because there is a top team and top fans, and I can’t wait to go back on the pitch.”
Tonali joined Newcastle in an €80m deal from Milan in 2023 and is under contract with the Magpies until June 2028.