Newcastle may suspend Sandro Tonali’s salary and take legal action against AC Milan over the midfielder’s 10-month ban from football, according to reports in Italy. The Premier League side could allegedly take legal action against Milan over their summer transfer for the Italian.
The Magpies spent £64million on Tonali in the summer having qualified for the Champions League this season. However, the 23-year-old will not be able to play until July 2024 after being handed a lengthy ban.
Tonali was found to have gambled on football matches including those involving his former club Milan while he was still playing for the Italian outfit. Newcastle will now be without their most expensive signing.
It has been claimed in the Italian media that Newcastle plan to sue Milan for selling Tonali to them in the summer. For their part, the Rossoneri insist they had no knowledge of Tonali’s gambling addiction, which has been revealed by the player’s agent.
According to Calciomercato, Newcastle will reportedly suspend the payment of the midfielder’s £7m salary. The Tyneside club have not commented since Tonali’s ban was confirmed on Thursday.
Tonali admitted to having a gambling addiction during a probe by Italian prosecutors. The investigation was prompted after Juventus starlet Nicolo Fagioli confessed to betting on games.
Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina revealed on Thursday that a plea agreement had been reached with Tonali’s camp regarding a 10-month ban. It means the 23-year-old will be out for the rest of the season, with the punishment lifted next August.
“An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and Sandro Tonali, which occurred before the referral, therefore it must be endorsed by the undersigned, which I have already done,” Gravina explained to reporters in Italy.
“A plea bargain is envisaged for 18 months of which eight months is activity recovery, some concerns therapeutic activity and at least 16 face-to-face meetings as testimony.
