Newcastle United’s midfielder Sandro Tonali has been cleared to return to competitive play on August 28 after serving a ten-month betting ban. The 24-year-old Italian will be eligible to play in upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup or Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League (EPL).
Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m ($70.5m), only made a dozen appearances for the club before the ban was imposed. During his time off the field, he continued to train with the team and voluntarily took a pay cut from his £120,000 ($153,911) weekly salary. This decision was made out of guilt for receiving payment while unable to play.
In addition to the ban from Italian authorities, Tonali also received a two-month suspended sentence from the English Football Association (FA) for betting on soccer games after joining Newcastle. If he avoids any further infractions until the end of the 2024-2025 season, he will not have to serve this suspension.
Newcastle United is looking forward to welcoming back the talented midfielder as they aim to build on their sixth-place finish in the previous season. Despite his absence, the team is currently considered the seventh favorite by sportsbooks to win the EPL.
Overall, the return of Sandro Tonali is a positive development for Newcastle United as they prepare for upcoming matches and strive to continue their success in the league.