Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has spilled the tea, revealing that Sandro Tonali's heart was set on Tottenham all along, shutting down rumors of a bidding war with Arsenal and Manchester City.
Romano clarified that while other clubs were linked, the Italian midfielder made Tottenham his number one choice from the jump. He emphasized that speculation about Arsenal and Man City didn't reflect the reality of Tonali's desires.
"I never came here telling you Man City, telling you Arsenal interest, telling you Tonali doesn’t want to go to Tottenham,” Romano stated firmly. “Many people said Tonali preferred Arsenal, or Manchester City. But Tonali’s preference was clear from that day.”
The midfielder gave his immediate approval to Spurs once they made their move, reportedly impressed by manager Roberto De Zerbi's project and the club's vision. Personal terms were sorted on June 15th, turning the subsequent club-to-club negotiations into a formality.
The deal itself is massive, with an upfront fee of £92.5 million plus £7.5 million in add-ons, totaling £100 million. This makes Tonali the most expensive Italian player ever and sets a new club transfer record for Tottenham, surpassing the recent £85 million deal for Mathys Fernandez.
Beyond the transfer fee, Tonali is also set to become Tottenham's highest-paid player, earning a staggering £275,000 per week on a six-year contract. This significant investment, alongside other major signings like Jan Paul van Hecke and free transfers, signals Tottenham's strong intent under De Zerbi to push for top-four contention and re-establish themselves as Premier League elites.
