Sandro Tonali is expected to mark his return to the Italy national team with a start against France in the Nations League on Friday. Here’s what the Newcastle midfielder can offer Luciano Spalletti moving forwards.
Tonali is expected to line-up in a midfield three alongside Torino’s Samuele Ricci and Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini against Didier Deschamps’s France at the Parc des Princes.
Spalletti has confirmed that the Azzurri will always look to use a back three system in the future, and expects to use either a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-2-1 shape. In both systems, Tonali would be the deeper lying of the midfielders.
During EURO 2024, Spalletti used Arsenal’s Jorginho as the deepest midfielder in the first three matches, before switching to a midfield three of Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Fagioli and Pellegrini for the round of 16 exit against Switzerland.
What Tonali brings to the Italy table
Cristante and Jorginho were two players who came under particular scrutiny after the disappointing results over the summer, and this is an area that Tonali will help to improve both in possession and out of it.
During his time with Milan, Tonali was most regularly deployed in the two-man midfield of a 4-2-3-1, although he often showed a willingness to push forwards and help in the build-up and the occasional attacking move.
He is also capable of filling the gaps and providing an on the flanks when his full-backs decide to push forwards as well.
Statistical analysis shows that progressive passing is one of Tonali’s biggest strengths. During his final season in Serie A with Milan, he averaged just over seven forward passes into the final third per 90 minutes.
He has also received praise in the past for his bursting runs, which often provided Milan with a numerical overload in their attacking play.
Out of possession, Tonali averaged just shy of seven successful duels per 90 minutes in his final season in Serie A. That is something that will help Italy, particularly if he is deployed in a deeper role, protecting the new-look back three.
Against France on Friday, Tonali is most likely to line up alongside Ricci in a two-man pivot in front of the back line, with Pellegrini to be deployed as the most advanced of the three.
As long as he continues performing well with Newcastle after the international break, Tonali could cement himself as a guaranteed starter after a long and testing year away from the professional game.
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I’m hoping Tonali becomes the permanent partner for Barella in the Azzurri midfield.