Sandro Tonali made a return to his former club, AC Milan, on Tuesday as Newcastle United made their first UCL appearance for the first time in 20 years in a crunch match against AC Milan. All eyes have been on Newcastle to see how they’ll fare in the competition this season after getting a difficult group-stage draw.
The Magpies are in the same group as PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan, with many making them the group’s underdogs. Tonali’s return to Italy brought back old memories, and the Italian has now opened up the possibility of a return to the Rossoneri later in the future.
Sandro Tonali talks on potential return to AC Milan
Sandro Tonali reluctantly joined Newcastle when the Magpies offered AC Milan a transfer fee of £55 million, an offer the Rossoneri couldn’t refuse. According to The Guardian, Tonali only found out about the move when a deal was getting closer, as AC Milan admitted to him that the offer was too good to refuse. A sad Tonali couldn’t help but agree to the move to try a new adventure in the Premier League with a high-flying Newcastle team.
Fate reconnected Tonali with his old team as Newcastle were drawn into the same group stage as AC Milan. Both teams faced off on Tuesday at the San Siro, with the match ending in a 0-0 draw and Tonali getting 72 minutes of action. He was warmly welcomed by the home fans, much to the surprise of former teammate Olivier Giroud. “He received a wonderful welcome. For me, Milan is a great club because the fans don’t forget players who have done so much for the club,” the former Chelsea and Arsenal striker said.
The man himself opened up about the possibility of turning out for AC Milan again in the future. “Return to AC Milan one day? I don’t know. I don’t know, I’d pay to know my future. Maybe yes, maybe not—football is strange. I can’t hide and won’t hide my love, passion for Milan,” the Newcastle midfielder admitted.
Newcastle will face AC Milan again in the UCL group stage
Newcastle went into the first leg of a two-legged group stage tie with AC Milan as the underdog, but the Magpies picked up an important point away from home. Eddie Howe’s men will now turn their attention to a home fixture against PSG next month, as they also face Borussia Dortmund in the same month. Newcastle will play AC Milan again in December in the reverse fixture of their opening UCL game, but the team’s fate in the competition may have been sealed by then.
How far can Newcastle go in the UCL this season? Tell us your predictions in the comments section.
