PM: Why Tonali’s return remains a dream for Milan despite talks with Newcastle | OneFootball

Ever since the departure of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United at the start of the 2023 summer window, there has been periodical talk about why he might end up back at AC Milan.

For example, a few weeks ago Carlo Pellegatti spoke of his conviction that the boyhood Milan fan will end up back at the club, potentially wearing the captain’s armband too to make the journey full circle.

However, PianetaMilan have confirmed that while Milan and Newcastle United have held recent transfer discussions, they are related to Kieran Trippier rather than Tonali.

The Englishman could take the spot of Davide Calabria and/or Alessandro Florenzi, whose contracts both out at the end of the season.

What about Tonali then? Well, he wants to stay in the Premier League in the short term and repay Newcastle and their fans for staying close to him while he served his suspension.

Moreover, the Italian signed a contract until 2028 and he gets a salary of €7m net per season fixed plus €2m in bonuses, which would make him Milan’s highest earner.

Tonali’s ‘love for Milan remains’, but a return is not likely to happen ‘for at least a couple of years’. By then, the player ‘might be homesick and willing to give up half of his salary’.