Gabriele Gravina will be 'very happy' to see Sandro Tonali join Newcastle United - even though the president of the Italian Football Federation is 'sorry' to see him go.
Tonali is edging closer to a move to St James' Park after the AC Milan midfielder agreed terms on a six-year deal with the Magpies. Both clubs have since been working on the final details of the move over the weekend, but there are not expected to be any late hitches.
Tonali is currently preparing for Italy under-21s' European Championship clash against Switzerland in Romania on Sunday evening. There will then be a brief period before Italy contest their final group stage match against Norway on Wednesday if any further details need to be ironed out.
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Regardless, whenever the deal is completed, Tonali will become one of the few current senior Italy internationals playing in the Premier League. Indeed, it is worth noting that Arsenal midfielder Jorginho was the sole representative from England's top-flight in the Azzurri's most recent squad for the Nations League finals. However, rather than harbouring any bitterness about Tonali bucking the trend, and leaving his homeland for the first time, Gravina has, tellingly, wished his countryman well.
"I see the positive side because Tonali isn't the first player to go abroad and he won't be the last," the administrator told reporters. "I'm sorry as an Italian, but I'm very happy for the boy.
"This operation should make us reflect. Finance dictates the world of the market. I hope that in some time we, too, will have the economic strength to go and buy important players from abroad".
