Tonali admitted he spoke with another club as well, but said choosing Spurs felt straightforward after a hugely positive first conversation. First impressions mattered, and within about 10 minutes he felt everything clicked.
He discussed the move with his wife, explaining they were looking for a complete change, not just a new city, and weighed offers from two teams. London itself accounted for only about 10% of the appeal—he said the other 90% was about football, Roberto De Zerbi, and Tottenham’s recruitment team.
He also addressed the transfer fee, noting it effectively ruled out a return to Italy. While clubs back home could cover his salary, the fee was prohibitive. England became the practical solution, and after a brief chat he realized Tottenham was the right next step for his career, happiness, and family.
At Spurs, he’ll link up with an Italian presence on the coaching staff and fellow Italy international Destiny Udogie. He stressed the move wasn’t due to any dissatisfaction at Newcastle, praising Eddie Howe—whom he hopes to remain friends with—as well as sporting director Ross Wilson. He said he wanted Newcastle to get the best possible deal because the club and its fans deserve it, lauding the atmosphere at St James’ Park.
He previously served a 10-month suspension for breaches of FA betting rules during his time at Newcastle. Acknowledging that a £100m price tag brings “a lot of pressure,” he insisted he’ll continue to live and act like any other Spurs player. He described himself as a normal person who values time with family and friends in Italy, saying that if his family is happy, he’s happy too.