The imminent sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United has ignited tensions amongst Milan fans, but who is really to blame for the Italian’s move, Apollo Heyes explores.
The 23-year-old Italian midfielder is on the verge of completing a circa €80m move to the Northeast of England, where he’ll sign a six-year contract worth around €7m net per season plus €2m in add-ons, a significant raise compared to his current €2.5m net wages with the Rossoneri.
The timing of this news has come at the worst time for Milan fans, who are still reeling from the unexpected dismissal of technical director Paolo Maldini earlier this month. Now, many are starting to realise that the former defender’s departure may have been a sign of things to come in the Lombardy capital.
When looking for a figure of blame, then, many immediately point to Milan owner Gerry Cardinale. The American businessman already rocked the boat with the sacking of Maldini and the sale of Tonali has further exacerbated tensions with fans, making him the obvious target for frustration.
Another common target is the Saudi-backed Newcastle, who are able to spend heavily thanks to the PIF takeover. Their greater financial resources easily allow them to outmuscle Italian sides in the transfer window, although their reaction to Inter’s resistance regarding Nicolo Barella does suggest that Milan could’ve done more to keep a hold of Tonali.
In a wider context, the shocking economic might of the Premier League has been highlighted as a growing problem in European football, with many quick to point out how the clubs finishing in the lower half of the English topflight are still able to spend far more than top sides in Italy.
Looking internally, though, reveals another problem. Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini alluded to this when asked about Tonali’s move to Newcastle, suggesting that “if a player as good and young as Tonali leaves Italy, it means there’s some problems”.
It’s no secret that Italian football has serious problems of its own, starting with the shockingly outdated stadiums littering the peninsula. Political red tape and bureaucracy make building a new home painfully difficult for any interested parties and this clearly limits the growth potential of teams across Italy.
The FIGC and Lega Serie A have also been blamed for similar issues, failing to create a product attractive enough to justify lucrative TV deals. Recent league assemblies have clearly shown the trouble finding a good deal, further hamstringing the ability of Italian football to keep up with its European counterparts.
In summary then, it’s not as simple as blaming Cardinale, even if the Milan owner could’ve tried to resist Newcastle’s approach. The core issues of Italian football continue to hold the league and clubs back, and the European adventures seen this season could simply be a flash in the pan if larger-scale concerns are not tackled.