​Newcastle Midfielder Sandro Tonali faces police probe and potential ban after agent reveals gambling addiction

Sandro Tonali, the £54 million Newcastle midfielder, has come under scrutiny after his agent, Guiseppe Riso, disclosed that he is battling a gambling addiction. The revelation comes as the 23-year-old faces a police investigation and a potential ban, with the Turin prosecutor initiating an inquiry into alleged betting by players, leading to Tonali being sent home from the Italian squad training last week.

Despite Tonali's return to training, questions have arisen regarding how the club was unaware of the issue during the extensive research conducted before his signing, as well as whether AC Milan had any prior knowledge of the potential probe before offloading him this summer.

In response to the situation, Newcastle has extended considerable support to Tonali. However, the club must prepare for potential repercussions, considering conflicting reports in Italy regarding the likelihood of a ban being imposed on Tonali.


While the player is eligible to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace and Dortmund in the Champions League, Riso emphasized the gravity of the situation: "Sandro is playing his most important game - against betting addiction. He’s in shock, very sad. He has to face this... He knows he made a mistake and is quite shaken."

Tonali, who initially appeared troubled upon joining Newcastle, citing language barriers and a sense of being lost after returning to Milan for a European game in September, has resolved to confront his struggles with a determined approach, Riso added.