With his move to Tottenham now official, Sandro Tonali has taken to Instagram to say goodbye to Newcastle, posting a heartfelt message.
Sandro Tonali arrived at St James’ Park in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan for £55 million, full of promise but walking into uncertainty. Within months, he was handed a ten-month ban from football after admitting to betting offences, a low point that could have defined his career. Instead, it is the recovery from that moment that defines him.
He returned in 2024/25 to play a central role in one of the most significant nights in the club’s modern history: the Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool at Wembley on March 16, 2025. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak sealed a 2-1 win and ended a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy, Newcastle’s first since the FA Cup in 1955.
What Sandro Tonali said to Newcastle and their fans and what it means
In his message, Tonali thanked the backroom staff, his teammates, and singled out Eddie Howe as a guiding figure throughout his time at the club. He reserved his most personal words for the supporters, reflecting on the Wembley triumph and telling them that trophy was for them. He also revealed that his son was born during his time in Newcastle, a detail that puts the whole chapter in context. Football brought him there. A family was built there.
Here is his message:
“Three years ago I came to Newcastle not really knowing what to expect. Today it’s time to say goodbye and it’s hard to find the right words.
I want to start by thanking the club. To the people who work every day and nobody sees at the training ground, everyone who welcomed me and made me feel at home from the very first day. Thank you to the staff and my teammates for believing in me and helping me grow. A special mention to the gaffer, Eddie, who’s been a real guiding figure and who always had my back throughout this journey.
But above all, I want to speak directly to the fans. When things were hard for me, you were there. Not for one day did I feel alone. I felt it every time I was at St James’ Park. That’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Together, we achieved something this city had been waiting decades for. At Wembley that day, it was special, a historic moment we got to share together. To the fans who never stopped believing, who never stopped cheering for this club, who were there in the hardest times, that trophy was for you.
The game brought me to Newcastle. Today I leave with my wife and our son, born during my time here. This city gave me more than football. It gave me a home, moments I’ll hold onto forever, and people I will always be grateful for.
Thank you for everything.
Sandro”
Tottenham are getting a player whose character has been tested and proven. That matters as much as the ability.