Italy international Sandro Tonali has given an in-depth interview to the British press, opening up on his gambling addiction and the subsequent 10-month ban that came after being found guilty for his involvement in illegal gambling practices.
Tonali was handed a 10-month ban by the FIGC last October, was fined €20,000 and was ordered to attend a number of events warning others against the dangers of gambling.
He recently marked his return to competitive football with Newcastle, starting in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest and coming off the bench in recent Premier League victories over Tottenham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
He also starred on his return to the Italy national team, playing a key role in the 3-1 victory over France at the Parc des Princes during the recent international break.
Tonali: ‘I was two different people’
In an interview with Sky Sports, Tonali described how it felt to live with such a big secret.
“Before the mistake, I had two lives, because I was very closed to myself and I never spoke with people, also in the training ground, also with the staff,” he told Sky Sports.
“Now it’s totally different. Every day is different, especially with the staff and my team-mates, because it’s normal to speak every day, it’s normal to have a relationship.
“When I come to the training ground, I am the same person now; with the gaffer, with the staff, with my team-mates.
“Before these 10 months, before the last year, I don’t know, but it’s a little bit different because I was another person. I was two different people in my life and in football. And now I am only one person, only one.
“When I speak with the gaffer, I am Sandro. When I play, I am Sandro. When I come back to Italy, I am Sandro. I have understood this in the last year and these 10 months.”
Tonali also explained how it felt to be out of the matchday squad for such a long period.
“I missed the last 10 months, I missed football, I missed the stadium, all the emotions on the pitch. But now I’ve come back and I’ve come back, I think, really well.
“The feeling [to be back celebrating with the fans] was very, very good, because the fans were crazy after the first game.”
Tonali also revealed which of his Newcastle teammates were the most helpful during his time away from competitive action.
“After the second game, the same for Bruno and Joelinton, because they supported me every day during the ban. With Trippier, and the captain Jamaal, these four, for me, were maybe the best players to support me.”