Sandro Tonali was the standout star on his 22nd birthday, being ‘a hero’ whose brace could be worth a Scudetto for Milan.
The 22-year-old Italian midfielder was played in a more advanced position by Stefano Pioli in Milan’s Serie A clash against Hellas Verona last night, and this proved to be a wonderful decision. He shone at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi and received significant praise from the Italian press as a result.
La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted that Tonali “gave himself an incredible birthday” with his performance, something Corriere dello Sport agreed with, adding: “On his birthday, he celebrated like a hero with a brace that reeks of the Scudetto.”
Tuttosport also lauded the former Brescia midfielder, questioning how he can impress at such a young age, “What kind of player is he, just turned 22 yesterday? We are at extraterrestrial levels. He played in a more advanced position and that’s enough for him to score 15 minutes after beating Ilic.” Corriere della Sera continued to lay good words on Tonali, calling him the “leader of this Diavolo, at just 22 years old.”
The 22-year-old Tonali has scored five goals and provided three assists in 34 Serie A appearances this season, proving himself to be a core member of Pioli’s squad in Milan.
Below are Tonali’s ratings in the Italian newspapers:
La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8
Corriere dello Sport: 8
Tuttosport: 9
Corriere della Sera: 8
happy birthday young lad
Tuttosport are getting carried away with themselves referring to Tonali as extraterrestrial.
– MESSI – was an extraterrestrial, especially at 22yrs old
He should take Jorginho’s spot on the national team.
Messi was an attacker, Tonali is a defensive midfielder.
Not saying they’re at the same level, but it’s wrong to compare the two. For a defensive midfielder, which is tactically a tougher position than a forward to play at a young age, he’s at a very high level already. Young attackers can be care-free (like Leao) but he has huge responsibilities as a midfielder and the anchor of the team.
@Milan Fan
Point taken, but is it really the case that Tonali is ‘extraterrestrial’?
@Milan141 YES! And he will become even more completely extraterrestrial! The performance yesterday was a performance of the season. For a defensive midfielder to push up and with the hunger and determination to fetch a brace is sensational! I love Tonali! And I will love home even more in the future! Forza Milan! Sempre!
@ Milan141
They probably don’t mean he’s at an extraterrestrial level in general, as I agree that’s getting carried away, but maybe they meant it was a performance at an extraterrestrial level for a barely 22 year old defensive midfielder LAST NIGHT, and it was.
I mean, he basically scored a hattrick, and his first was the best of them. Shame for that millimeter offside call.
I can say Sandro has given me belief , and for that he is extraterrestrial !
Bravo Sandro ,
Forza Milan
Sandro should definitely be considered for the captaincy next season. Embodies everything you want in a Captain. Gonna pick up his jersey when our kit looks better than current season’s.
He is 22 yo, don’t burden his growth and his head with the armband, let him grow with ease
Leao and Sandro finally showing why they have been signed by Milan. Great transfers!
What makes it even better is Sandro Tonali is a Milan fan, doing what all football fans would love (but unfortunately can’t do) play AND win for the team you love.
He basically scored a hat trick last night and fought like a devil for the defence…. It was the game of his life and all on his birthday…. Extraterrestrial or not its the stuff of legends…
Good job to conte to get that old vidal instead of tonali last, brilliant stuff.
Well, to be honest and fair, Tonali was promising in Brescia but his first year at Milan was bad. Something had to happen at the pause between seasons because even Pioli saw a different Tonali in day two of preseason. It looks like his brother, the one who chose to study and not playing football, was there instead of Sandro. Difference is so big that I wonder if that comic joke is true. And of course you have to give credit to Pioli, who has managed the kid as a lord. Sandro has huge margins of growth. To think that most of the players carrying this team to a Scudetto fight are so young: Leao (22), Tonali (22), Kalulu (21), Tomori (24, still young), Theo (24), Bennacer (24), Saelemakers (22). Maignan for a keeper at 26 is also very young. What a squad Milan has for sometime if the project is respected
This Milan will be challenging and improving for the next 5 to 6 seasons. This bodes well for the league as a whole since they’ll only start hitting their prime then.
Once Milan get more reinforcements in attack, then perhaps they will start challenging again in Europe again.
Yes he is Extraterrestrial, we have to encourage and push these Italian kids up with incessant vigor.