Tonali: brief chat with De Zerbi sealed £100m Tottenham move

Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali has revealed that a brief conversation with Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi was the decisive factor in his club-record transfer from Newcastle United earlier this summer. The 26-year-old, who joined Spurs for a reported fee of 100 million pounds, said he was convinced of the move after just ten minutes of speaking with his compatriot.

Tonali, speaking from Tottenham's preseason tour in Australia, explained that while he and his family initially hoped for a return to Italy, the financial demands of Newcastle made a Serie A move impossible. He acknowledged speaking with two Premier League clubs, widely reported to include Manchester City, but said the discussions with De Zerbi and Tottenham's director quickly set Spurs apart. He described the club's presentation as being delivered with "100 per cent passion, 100 per cent seriousness," and said he decided Tottenham would be his next team within minutes.

A significant element of the connection was the shared history both men have with the Italian club Brescia. De Zerbi is a native supporter and former player, while Tonali began his professional career there. The midfielder noted they...