Sandro Tonali has not even formally completed his transfer to Newcastle United, but already the inquest in Italy seems to be under way. Ahead of the signing of one of Serie A's brightest stars, the turnaround which still seems scarecely believable to the Toon Army is proving a bitter pill to swallow elsewhere.
Two years ago, Newcastle's refusal to pay the loan fee for out-of-favour Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury caused a rift with then-head coach Steve Bruce and led to a bizarre club statement defending the club's ambitions. Now, the Magpies are on the brink of partnering Bruno Guimaraes with an Italy international often compared to Andrea Pirlo in close to a club-record deal.
Social media is never the best gauge, but AC Milan supporters for the second successive summer have been left fuming by Newcastle. Having lured Sven Botman to St James' Park last year despite interest from the Rossoneri, Eddie Howe's side have convinced a boyhood fan to turn his back on the Serie A giants and buy into the evolving project on Tyneside.
