Sandro Tonali has landed back in Italy after his official unveiling as a Newcastle player on Monday morning and immediately spoke to journalists at the airport waiting to quiz him about his big-money move away from Milan.
The 23-year-old described the decision to leave San Siro in favour of St. James’ Park as the ‘most difficult’ of his career to date and noted that one day, he wishes to return to Milan to ‘see the fans smiling.’
Tonali moved to Newcastle for a fee believed to be worth €70m and will feature in the club’s first Champions League campaign in 20 years.
Awaited by reporters stood by his car at the Linate Airport in Milan on Thursday afternoon, Tonali was asked how the first interactions went for him in Newcastle.
“Positive,” he replied. “I met people who wanted me at all costs. They were as positive as they were before I got there.”
He went on to explain that the decision to leave Milan was: “The most difficult choice of my career but one which had to be made now.
“Milan welcomed me like a son and I will be thankful to them for the rest of my life, I will never forget it. I love all my teammates, I will always be their fan because they are golden people. It was a choice I had to make and I made it at the right time.”
Tonali also spoke of the recently departed Paolo Maldini, who was let go from his position as technical director of the Rossoneri at the beginning of June.
“Maldini is a very important figure,”: he said. “He helped me a lot, especially in the first year and took me under his wing. This year the paths have split, but he will remain a massive figure for all the players. I’ll thank him forever.
The 23-year-old was also quizzed about his interactions with Rafael Leao and his other Milan teammates before leaving.
“I spoke to Rafa before the news and it’s normal that they didn’t expect this sort of thing, but as intelligent people they understood and he himself wishes me all the best.
“It’s been a long summer: our decision doesn’t come from this season, but from these three seasons. I hope one day to be able to return to Milan and see the fans smiling.”