Tonali’s £100 million price tag fuels Italian criticism at Tottenham

Sandro Tonali arrived at Tottenham after the English club paid £100 million (R$ 687 million at current rates) to sign the Newcastle midfielder, making him the most expensive Italian footballer in history. The size of the outlay has set expectations that match the fee, and the Italian media are now questioning whether the investment is being justified on the pitch. The criticism came from, which described the £100 million man as “no longer flying” and warned that Tonali’s crisis is deepening. The newspaper’s analysis highlighted his muted impact for both club and country, noting a lack of influence in Italy’s recent defeat to Belgium in the Nations League.

In that match at the Estádio Olímpico de Roma, Tonali was out‑muscled in midfield and struggled to control the game when his side needed him most. argued that his performance was eclipsed by Kevin De Bruyne, whose display exposed the Italian’s difficulties.

Struggles at Tottenham

Under manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tonali has found his start at Tottenham challenging, failing to become the reference point the club envisioned. The publication pointed out that his limited influence has left Tottenham near the bottom of the Premier League table.

Beyond club form, the paper noted that Tonali has also not lived up to expectations with the Azzurra, failing to dominate the central sector in the recent Nations League loss.

’s commentary stresses that the £100 million valuation carries a clear mission: to raise Italy’s level of play, shoulder teammates and guide the side through challenges. The Italian outlet questions whether Tonali can still fulfil that mission.

Despite the criticism, Tonali remains a high‑profile signing, having been touted for years as a leading talent of the new Italian generation and previously compared with historic midfield greats from Milan.

The ongoing debate in Italy underscores the pressure on Tonali to translate his hefty price tag into decisive performances, a narrative that will shape his future at Tottenham and his standing in the national team.