Former Brescia coach Eugenio Corini is certain Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali will be in the Italy squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. ‘He needed the necessary time to adapt’.
Tonali moved from Brescia to Milan ahead of 2020-21 and had a difficult first year at San Siro, but the Rossoneri had seen enough to give him a permanent move this summer.
Corini, who launched Tonali during their time together at Brescia, was always certain the youngster would take the next step.
The 21-year-old has responded with great performances in the first months of the season and has scored twice in the first seven games of the Serie A season.
“I didn’t have the slightest doubt that he would have had a great start this year,” Corini told Tuttosport. “The difficulties of last season with the Rossoneri are explained above all by the fact that he arrived at Milan after three years of being a protagonist without holidays at Brescia.
“In the summer, he was busy with the national youth teams. A little because of his tiredness and a little because of the normal acclimatisation he had to deal with in a big club.
“Sandro needed the necessary time to adapt and now he’s expressing himself and the great quality he has.”
Corini believes the former Rondinelle star will be part of Azzurri CT Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for the World Cup in Qatar next year.
“He is a senior national player, but it was right that he made this move with [Italy U21 coach Paolo] Nicolato.
“It was functional for the target that the Azzurrini have. I’ll say more: Tonali could easily have been included in the list of those who went to the European Championship. I remember Mancini already followed him when he was in Serie B at Brescia with me.
“Unfortunately, the first year at Milan meant that someone overtook him, but I have no doubt that we will see him at the next World Cup.”
Corini said Tonali is an ‘all-rounder’ and believes he is ‘perfect’ for the new ‘modern football’.
“He’s an all-rounder, someone who fits perfectly into modern football,” Corini continued. “He knows how to combine two characteristics: those who build the game and those who bring the pressure or are looking for the goal.
“He can shoot from outside the area and now that he is well, I’m sure he will also start scoring.”