SANDRO TONALI is growing increasingly frustrated at Newcastle.
The Italy midfielder, 25, was linked with a move to Arsenal on deadline day while Manchester City and Chelsea are also huge admirers of the £100million-rated ace.
Tonali was then spotted deep in conversation with City boss Guardiola on the pitch following the final whistle of the Carabao Cup semi-final 5-1 aggregate defeat.
Following the Etihad loss which made it one win in seven for Newcastle, Tonali was asked TWICE – once in English and a second in Italian – by journalists to stop in the mixed zone.
Tonali walked on but his disappointment was clear when he was overheard venting his frustrations to a female member of club staff.
As well as Prem giants, Juventus and other Serie A clubs are monitoring Tonali’s situation with a view to a summer move.
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Toon boss Eddie Howe said on Tuesday he did not fear another Alexander Isak saga with the ex-AC Milan star but revealed he had held showdown talks with his prized asset.
But Tonali’s public exchange with Guardiola is the last thing the club would have wanted to see as they continue to stress there is no intention to sell him.
Guardiola was asked about his chat with Tonali and said: “What did I say? My Italian is perfect, so that’s why I can communicate with him. And we have an incredible friend in common from Brescia, Edoardo Piovani.
“And every time we are connected, I know his father some time ago, and all the time we met, we talked about his experience in Milan, the supporters, and how happy he is in Newcastle.
“He’s a really top player, top, top, top player!”
Tonali’s wife Juliette gave birth to a baby boy Leonardo last month and Sun Sport understands the family are happy in the North East and are not actively looking for an exit.
The player’s agent Giuseppe Riso attempted to play down talk that his client was trying to engineer a move.
However, Riso muddied the waters when he stated Tonali’s true value would be known in March – which indicated his asking price could increase if he helps Italy qualify for the World Cup via the play-offs.
Tonali enjoys a close relationship with Howe and remains grateful for the club’s backing during his ten-month betting ban shortly after his £55m arrival in 2023 from the red half of Milan.
Newcastle are determined to keep Tonali, who is on a £150,000-a-week contract until 2029, at St James’ Park for the long-term but the club are aware awkward discussions could follow if they miss out on qualifying for European football.
When asked directly by Sun Sport back in November about his long-term future, Tonali spoke honestly about the uncertainty of a footballer’s life.
He said: “This is a tough question because, you know [in] football you need to think year for year. The last summer was tough for us, for Alex [Isak], but this is football.
“If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything. I don’t want to say, ‘Yes, I want to stay here ten years,’ but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
Despite the Magpies failing to defend the Carabao Cup, Howe’s men are seven points off fifth place and remain in two cup competitions.
Newcastle face Qarabag in the Champions League play-off round and travel to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s all-time top scorer Alan Shearer admits they risk losing Tonali and other top players if they don’t get European football.
He told Betfair: “Sandro Tonali hasn’t hit the heights he was at last season, but I guess what’ll happen is, if Newcastle aren’t going to qualify for Europe or be competitive in the Premier League, you’d expect other clubs will look at Newcastle and try to buy their best players.
“Although it was a surprise in the January window, it’ll happen more in the summer if Newcastle don’t achieve what they have in the past few years.
“Top players want to play Champions League football, and we know there’s no real loyalty in football – I’m not saying Tonali will do anything like that, but we know if clubs don’t get into European places, other clubs will try and pick players up.
“Newcastle have to start winning games and go far in the FA Cup and hopefully the Champions League to try and rescue what, at the minute, certainly Premier League wise, has been a disappointing return.
“I know we got to a semi-final and all those years ago we’d craved for that but then the money that’s been spent and put into the club and where the club wants to go to, at the minute it’s been disappointing.”
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