Sandro Tonali admits that he wasn’t expecting to end up in Wetherspoons after his famous trip went viral.
The midfielder arrived at Newcastle from AC Milan over the summer where he enjoyed an upbringing in one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities.
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That’s why fans were left stunned when the Italian star’s first outing in Newcastle was to the cheap-and-cheerful boozer, rather than one of the more upmarket bars or restaurants.
As you’d expect, Newcastle’s supporters loved the humble nature of Tonali’s outing, something that the 23-year-old described as ‘fun’,
Speaking in his press conference, Tonali said: “After the game against Villa I had asked people about places and restaurants to spend a night with my family.
“I didn’t receive the answer I was expecting. I spent the night in a pub in my city.
“You don’t usually go to the pub with family but it was a special night! Fun!”
Tonali has endured a challenging couple of months as he adapts to life with a new club and a new culture, but according to the midfielder, his colleagues have played a big role in helping him to settle.
He said: “This summer has been hard and I’ve had a difficult start.
“At the beginning it was not easy to find my place, but I have found people to support me and to help me and I started to be happier.
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“Mr Howe and my team-mates have been great. They are helping me in my personal and professional life. They have helped me settle.
“The language at the beginning was very, very difficult for me, communicating with the guys I found extremely tough, but it is getting easier and I’m very happy. It is getting easier.”
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