{"id":94812,"date":"2023-10-20T10:24:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T10:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=94812"},"modified":"2023-10-20T10:24:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T10:24:26","slug":"eddie-howe-vows-newcastle-will-throw-our-arms-around-sandro-tonali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/soccer\/eddie-howe-vows-newcastle-will-throw-our-arms-around-sandro-tonali\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Howe vows Newcastle will 'throw our arms around' Sandro Tonali"},"content":{"rendered":"
Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali is \u2018absolutely devastated\u2019 as he faces the threat of a year-long ban for illegal betting – but insists the club will stand by their \u00a352million signing.<\/p>\n
The Newcastle boss also revealed that the hierarchy will \u2018do what it needs to do\u2019 when asked if they were looking to take legal action.<\/p>\n
Tonali – formerly of Brescia and Milan – is reported to have admitted gambling on matches involving his own teams after being interrogated by Italian authorities last week. His agent says the player has a \u2018gambling addiction\u2019 and has co-operated fully with the investigation. It is thought he risks a ban of at least 12 months.<\/p>\n
It raises the question of how much Tonali and Milan knew of the probe when he signed for Newcastle in July, and why due diligence did not reveal the midfielder\u2019s gambling problems.<\/p>\n
Howe is set to include the Italy international in his squad for Saturday\u2019s visit of Crystal Palace, but that could be his last game before his punishment is confirmed.<\/p>\n
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Sandro Tonali is being investigated for alleged breaches of betting rules and could be given a lengthy ban<\/p>\n
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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is adamant Tonali has the full support of the club<\/p>\n
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The head coach faced questions for the first time on Tonali on Friday, and insisted his sole concern was protecting the 23-year-old, whose contract runs until 2028.<\/p>\n
\u2018The most important part of this whole incident is Sandro and his welfare,\u2019 said Howe. \u2019It\u2019s very easy for people to forget how young he is, the changes he’s had in his life coming from Italy to England.<\/p>\n
\u2018That’s hard enough to deal with, and now he has this situation. So we, as a football club straight away, it was throw our arms around him and protect him and try to give him the love and support he needs to find solutions to the problems that he’s had.<\/p>\n
\u2018He loves the game and he is absolutely devastated. His thoughts are with Newcastle, the team and all those emotions, and our thoughts are with him. Hopefully between us we can make it work. We will support him and see him being part of our team for many years, and I know that\u2019s the same back from his side to us. We are committed to him long term.\u2019<\/p>\n
Howe was asked if there was frustration that club did not know about Tonali\u2019s issues before they committed the bulk of the summer budget on him.<\/p>\n
\u2018That’s a very difficult one,\u2019 he said. \u2018From our side, Sandro is a top, top person and a top character. I’ve got no doubts about him as a person at all. But like anybody, you don’t know everything about every person. It’s impossible to, but it’s our job now to help and support him.\u2019<\/p>\n
Howe said he could not comment on the suggestion Milan may have known about the investigation before they sold Tonali. But when asked if the club would be looking to take legal action, he said: \u2018I\u2019m sure the club will be doing what the club needs to do. But from my side, I can\u2019t comment on that because I\u2019m not party to those conversations.\u2019<\/p>\n
Was their anger inside the club that \u00a352m has been invested in a gambling addict?<\/p>\n
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Eddie Howe claimed the club are not angry at Tonali after signing a gambling addict<\/p>\n
‘I don\u2019t think we can look at it like that,\u2019 said Howe. \u2018Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We can\u2019t play that game. We make a decision based on football, signing the players we think can make the team better and that is what we have done.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t think there is anger from the club. I think there is understanding for the situation we are in. Now we have to make a really tough situation the best we can, navigate our way out of it, support Sandro the best we can and get back to playing football.\u2019<\/p>\n
Would Howe have expected Tonali to tell the club about his problems before signing?<\/p>\n
\u2018I’m not going to answer that question,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
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