Sandro Tonali faces scrutiny amid club and international struggles

Sandro Tonali, the Italian midfielder recently signed by Tottenham Hotspur for a record fee of approximately £100 million, is facing scrutiny following a period of difficult form for both club and country.

Following Italy’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium in the UEFA Nations League, Tonali addressed the criticism, noting that the national team is a young, new group that requires time to build cohesion. He emphasized the need for patience, stating, “We don’t have a star player,” and urged fans to protect younger players from excessive pressure, suggesting that veteran players should shoulder more responsibility.

At the club level, Tonali’s high-profile move to Tottenham has drawn intense media attention in Italy, with reports questioning if his performances match his historic transfer value. Ahead of Italy’s upcoming match against Turkey, Tonali expressed a focus on moving past recent disappointments and rebuilding the team’s positive momentum.