Nicknames are synonymous at football clubs, and it has not taken long for the Newcastle United players to give Sandro Tonali one.
The 23-year-old midfielder arrived on Tyneside back in July, costing £55million from AC Milan. He is now the club’s second most expensive signing ever.
Tonali is the marquee midfielder that Eddie Howe was after this summer, and he has shown flashes of his supreme talent during pre-season. For instance, his debut against Rangers was outstanding.
Now the Italian is preparing to play at St James’ Park for the first time, with Newcastle competing in the Sela Cup this weekend. It is unclear whether Tonali will be involved on Saturday or Sunday, with the Magpies playing on consecutive days.
Ahead of the games, Howe has been putting his players through their paces back at the training ground, where it is not quite as hot as it was out in America. But as Tonali gets used to the North East ‘summer’, it looks like he has been given a nickname by his Toon teammates.
Sandro Tonali’s new nickname
The club have released a video from the training ground ahead of this weekend’s Sela Cup. The players can be seen taking part in various passing and shooting drills.
At 3:20, a selection of players can be seen doing a rondo, where two players in the middle of the circle look to intercept passes from the surrounding players. And following a pass from Tonali, someone, possibly Matt Ritchie, can be heard shouting ‘beautiful Sandy’.
Tonali has not been at Newcastle long, and is still learning the English language. He is improving, with the midfielder taking regular lessons. But hopefully his English is already good enough for him to understand the new nickname that he has been given – a nickname that is no shorter than his actual name.
It is one of the less extravagant nicknames, at least. Last season we saw Joe Willock get branded as ‘Willockinho’, while Anthony Gordon got ‘Starboy Malfoy’ because of his blonde hair.
In that respect, Sandy Tonali got off lightly!
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