Sandro Tonali has revealed he was set on returning to Italy before Tottenham won him over with a conversation he described as "close to magic." The Italian midfielder's £100m transfer to north London was one of the summer's headline deals, but the story behind it was never straightforward. Speaking to BBC Sport, Tonali said his family had decided to head back to Italy — only for the move to prove impossible because Italian clubs could cover his wages but not the transfer fee (BBC Sport).

So Tottenham it was, and the decision came quickly. Tonali said he spoke with two clubs and understood within 10 to 15 minutes that Spurs would be his next team. He consulted his wife first. His first impression of Tottenham was "very positive," and a 10-minute chat was enough to settle it.

London itself barely figured in the equation. Tonali put the city at about 10% of the attraction. The other 90% was football: head coach Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham's recruitment staff, and the sporting project they sold him. The connection to De Zerbi runs deep — both men came through Brescia Calcio's system, the club that is also De Zerbi's local side. Tonali wears the number 16 shirt at his new club and links up with fellow Italy international Destiny Udogie, joining an Italian contingent already embedded in the Spurs coaching staff (Tottenham Hotspur).

De Zerbi, for his part, said he had followed Tonali "for a long time" and called him "a special player and a great signing for our Club" (Tottenham Hotspur).

Tonali's departure from Newcastle closes a turbulent chapter on Tyneside. He served a 10-month ban for breaches of FA betting rules during his time at the club — a suspension that kept him out of the game for nearly an entire season. Despite the difficult end, he had only warm words for former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, calling him "fantastic" and saying he wants to maintain friendships with Howe and sporting director Ross Wilson. He also said he pushed for the best possible deal for Newcastle in the transfer because they "deserve everything" (BBC Sport).

What stands out is the blend of pragmatism and romance in Tonali's account. The Italian return was the dream; the economics made it impossible. In stepped De Zerbi — a coach from the same Brescia streets that shaped Tonali's game — and a 10-minute conversation did the rest. For Tottenham fans, that mix of a shared footballing heritage and a manager who has tracked his man for years offers something more solid than the usual transfer-window excitement. The £100m fee carries its own pressure, but Tonali's words suggest he arrived with his eyes open.