It is not the answer Newcastle United fans would have wanted Sandro Tonali to give, but it is the honest one.
Speaking as the dust settled on a crucial Champions League win for Eddie Howe’s side, Newcastle’s midfield talisman stepped back from giving any cast-iron assurances about his long-term future when questioned by The i Paper.
He even namechecked Alexander Isak’s “difficult summer” as he admitted he was thinking “year for year”, despite the secret contract extension that effectively ties him to the club until 2029.
What’s the context at Newcastle?
First the context: Tonali says he is “happy” and “not thinking about any other club”. That tallies with the view of club insiders who say the Italy midfielder has always spoken about repaying the loyalty the Magpies showed to him when he was suspended for a year back in 2023.
But it might feel uncomfortable for a club who lost Isak in such contentious circumstances this summer for their best player to be so nuanced when talking about what comes next.
In reality Tonali’s honesty reflects the bigger picture for Newcastle – they need to keep pace with the ambition of their best players if they are going to keep them all at St James’ Park.
Tonali was speaking in the mixed zone after a 2-0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao which suggested they are on the right track.
Not yet at their best, they are nonetheless motoring in the first phase of the Champions League and are nestled in a top eight slot that would book them a place in the knock out stages for the first time in the club’s history.
What did Tonali say?
So here’s what I asked him that after another journalist had raised the “secret” contract renewal that he had signed during his long ban for gambling offences: Do you see your future at Newcastle, long-term?
“This is a tough question because, you know, [in] football you need to think year for year,” he replied.
“I don’t want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years [or] five years I will go.
“I want to think, just for me, year for year. This is football. The last summer was tough for us, for Alex [Isak], but this is football. If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything.
“I don’t want to say ‘Yes, I want to stay here 10 years’ but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
It was a straightforward answer to a straightforward question and should not prompt anger among a fanbase watching a Newcastle team whose inconsistency can be infuriating.
Why did Tonali sign his ‘secret’ extension?
Tonali could have paid lip service to the line of questioning or dealt in platitudes but he actually appeared to be thinking about his answers.
And – of course – Newcastle have the protection of the contract extension he signed during his gambling ban, which belatedly emerged last week. That ties him to Newcastle until 2028 and has the option of another year, which is in the club’s favour.
“I’m happy about it. This extension was three years ago after the ban, I don’t know why the last week everybody spoke about it,” he said.
“When I had the ban, when I was out off the pitch, I signed my contract for one year because it was difficult staying off the pitch for [what was] my fault, for my problem, and [take] all the money from this team.
“The club spoke to me, spoke with my agent, and [we] signed for one more year. But it’s not for the money, it’s not for one more year. It was because I have confidence in this team, and this team have confidence in me. So we worked together.
“But every day for me is the same here. Every day I work for the win every game, I work for every person in Newcastle, I work for my family, I work really for every person here.”
So what happens next?
Tonali’s words should really put new sporting director Ross Wilson on notice. He is currently conducting a contract audit and while the Italy midfielder’s deal gives Newcastle protection, a pay bump to reflect his status as the team’s most important player would make sense.
But more important than money is probably the scale of Newcastle’s ambition. Despite their pretty paltry away form in the Premier League this is clearly a club moving in the right direction. They are progressing in Europe and sit above Real Madrid in the Champions League table.
There remain some big steps to take, though. Tonali’s words are proof that this is a club that cannot afford to rest on its laurels.
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