AC Milan should have 'tried to keep' Sandro Tonali with the midfielder set to complete a transfer to Newcastle United next week. That is the view of Italy and Premier League legend Gianfranco Zola, who accepts it would have been 'hard' for the Serie A giants to reject the deal worth at least £55 million.
Tonali has already agreed terms on a six-year contract at St James' Park, and is due on Tyneside next week to conclude the formalities of the transfer. The 23-year-old will move to the Magpies sooner than expected, with Italy's under-21s suffering a surprise group-stage exit from the European Championships.
News of Tonali's impending transfer to Newcastle surprised many in his homeland, with national team boss Roberto Mancini insisting it was a 'problem' to see Serie A's rising stars move abroad. However, the former Manchester City boss also admitted the experience of playing in England would be a boost to the midfielder's own development.
Milan have enjoyed a resurgence in recent seasons, lifting their first Serie A title in 11 years in the 2021/22 season before enjoying a run to the Champions League semi-finals last term. However, the Italian giants still deemed Newcastle's offer for one of their prized assets as simply too good to turn down.
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Zola reckons Tonali's stance on the move could have proven decisive, but was still surprised to see Milan sanction a sale. The ex-Chelsea striker told La Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia: “Milan are a fantastic team, to me they’ll always be among the best in the world. Of course, the player’s will may have counted, it’s hard to reject certain offers, but if I were Milan, I would have tried to keep him.”
