Sandro Tonali might seem like the ideal signing for Arsenal and any other top club in Europe right now but for the Gunners, there are reasons to avoid.
Tonali is being linked with a move to The Emirates after a stunning revelation – via his agent – came on deadline day.
That talk came and went and the Italian remains at Newcastle but there is expected to be some sort of movement this summer.
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Tonali has been a standout for Newcastle ever since signing and the club stuck by him through gambling problems off the field, making his agent’s recent comments even more hurtful.
Indeed, it is this, coupled with Mikel Arteta’s ethos, that makes Tonali perhaps not ideal for Arsenal.
Arsenal don’t need big egos or agents and should avoid Sandro Tonali
If we are going on pure talent and a player who can bring something to Arsenal football club, then sure, Sandro Tonali ticks many boxes.
He’s one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, is already settled into the country, and would need minimal ‘getting up to speed’ time.
However, it’s not ALL about just what he can bring on the field.
We can gloss over the off-field problems Tonali had which resulted in him being banned as humans make mistakes and there is likely more to things than we know.
However, what we can observe quite clearly is that Tonali comes with an agent and representatives who like to make themselves known. Tonali’s agent has recently spoken in public about a potential summer move for his player, while he bizarrely denied any knowledge of putting his name out there on deadline day.
Put simply, that is a red flag for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.
The current boss has spent years building up a team spirit and all for one ethos at the club. We saw with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang how Arteta doesn’t like characters who rock the boat, and while it might not be Tonali himself, his agent is part of the package.
As it stands right now, Arsenal don’t need or want that.
What Sandro Tonali’s agent has said about his future
It feels like the writing is on the wall already if you’re a Newcastle fan.
Player agents don’t come out and make direct comments unless something is in the water and it’s clear Tonali’s agent wants him to get a big move.
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“Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” his agent said this week.
“We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer. These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.”
“There’s no preference at the moment. It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow. Newcastle couldn’t let him go now, and there’s no point in moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.”
Clearly, this is a player with a representative trying to force the issue.
It’s a bad look and one that, ultimately, Arsenal can do without.
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