With each passing day, Kieran Trippier's £12m transfer fee looks more and more like a total steal. For Newcastle United to land a player of the right-back's technical ability, blessed with such off-the-pitch leadership remains the biggest coup of new era.
Trippier has time and time again showed his influence on the Magpies dressing room and last week was no different. The 32-year-old was on hand at Newcastle's Benton training base to welcome new boy Sandro Tonali to the club.
Trippier, Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth were all on hand to show the Italian around his new surroundings, with the Newcastle captain using his experience in Madrid to offer words of advice to Tonali and his family.
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“It’s good, happy to have you here. Are you excited?" Trippier asked, as shown in footage shown on Newcastle's media channels. "If you ever need any help I’m always here to help you settle.
"I know how hard it is to move to a different country. I’m always here if you need any help about the city, the team, anything, I’m here.”
Speaking to Tonali’s partner, Trippier added: “Especially for you, because my wife struggled in Spain. The quicker you settle, the quicker he settles so that’s the most important thing.”
Trippier was the first player to take a chance on the Newcastle project, leaving the comforts of Champions League football for a relegation scrap in England's top flight. Despite the club's resurgence under Howe, it's likely Tonali will too have needed the opportunity explaining to him.
“It was not easy at the start to explain the project, but he is intelligent and understood straight away,” agent Guiseppe Riso told Sportitalia. “We found the best solution for everyone, for Milan and for Sandro, as he is going to have an experience in the NBA of football.”
Tonali cost significantly more than Trippier but can offer similar leadership qualities. The 23-year-old recently captained Italy's U21 side at the European Championship and was seen as a future AC Milan captain before his sudden departure.
Newcastle will be hoping Tonali can represent similar value for money in the years to come.
