Brescia president Massimo Cellino has vowed to protect Sandro Tonali amid heavy speculation linking him with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Liverpool.
The 18-year-old Italian central midfielder, who’s being compared to fellow il Biancoazzurri academy graduate, and World Cup winner, Andrea Pirlo, is currently enjoying a second campaign as a professional footballer.
Who is Sandro Tonali? Five key things to know…
- Born in Lodi on May 8, 2000.
- Nominally a regista or deep-lying playmaker, Tonali can play either central or defensive midfield.
- He broke into Brescia’s first-team aged 17.
- The Italy U19 international has registered four goals and seven assists in 41 appearances.
- Tonali was named Serie B Footballer of the Year in 2018.
Despite having never played top division football, courtesy of Brescia currently lying in Italy’s second division, it hasn’t stopped a number of teams attempting to prise him away.
Earlier this year, Cellino revealed that Premier League title-chasing side Liverpool contacted him regarding Tonali, but they are not the only ones, with Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan reportedly keen, as well as Chelsea.
It will not be easy to keep hold of the player, but Cellino is concerned with the attention he is receiving, as it will only build the pressure on his young shoulders.
At the moment there isn’t a great deal of concern, but that could soon change. When discussing Brescia’s players Cellino made a note to highlight Tonali, who he is determined to take care of.
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“Tonali? I have to protect him,” he told reporters.
“He is good, but he has so much pressure on him and in recent times, I do not like it. He should not be content, but always try to improve. The merits are for everyone, but I am especially happy with the young man.”
The new Pirlo?
Due to a similar look and playing style, many observers have likened Tonali to former Brescia player Andrea Pirlo.
Tonali, who nominally operates as a deep-lying playmaker (or regista), is comfortable with the role he undertakes for his team (which has yielded four goals and seven assists in 41 outings) stating: “I feel good playing in any midfield position. I mostly play as the playmaker but I have no problem playing on the sides of the midfield.”
However, the comparisons haven’t gone down too well, some feeling it will only lead to unnecessary pressures. Roberto La Florio, his representative, goes even further suggesting there aren’t any parallels with Pirlo when you consider their respective career at 18.
“Sandro Tonali is Sandro Tonali, he’s not the new Pirlo, it’s the opposite,” he said.
“While he’s close to him in terms of position on the pitch and character, labelling him ‘the new Pirlo’ can only hurt him. At his age, Pirlo wasn’t even a regista, so if we want to exaggerate, Tonali at the same age is even stronger.”
The post Brescia president grows concerned over ‘new Pirlo’ after revealing Liverpool contact appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka News http://bit.ly/2BI7PnH
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