We don’t want to speak for every Newcastle United fan, but we’re pretty confident that none of us are big fans of Giuseppe Riso, right?
If you’re unaware of who Giuseppe Riso is, he’s the man doing everything he can to feed the transfer rumour machine regarding Sandro Tonali ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Italian agent who looks after Sandro Tonali has seemingly been on a mission since the end of the January transfer window to subtly make clubs aware that our midfield maestro could be open to a move at the end of the season.
This itchy feet feeling doesn’t seem to be coming from Tonali himself, but feels more like Riso trying to bag himself a payday in the form of a nice big commission cheque.
At the back end of last week, Giuseppe Riso spoke to Calcio & Finanza (via GOAL) and admitted that he didn’t know about Tonali’s gambling issue that saw the 25-year-old hit with a 10-month ban shortly after arriving at Newcastle.
Perhaps no real surprise given the secretive nature about such addictions, but he has paid tribute to Newcastle fans, hailing their support of Tonali during such a difficult time.
“No, absolutely not, also because otherwise we would have intervened. I must say that the transfer also turned out to be a winning choice from this point of view.
“Because both Newcastle and their fans treated Sandro incredibly, always supporting him. In Italy, he received different treatment. Not from the AC Milan fans, who always protected him.
“In England, the mentality is different, and every time Sandro entered the stadium, despite his suspension, he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
“We’re talking about a guy who made a mistake, the fans noticed, and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has completely changed.”
What we find hard to swallow is that praise for the club and the fans, when he has, in the past, made it seem like he wants Tonali to move on.
We understand that’s an agent’s role to keep the door open so that their clients get the best (and the agent gets paid), but Riso said it here that the club and the fans have been brilliant with him.
We hope that comes into play at the end of the season, when and if any offers come in for the Italian. We’ve heard nothing concrete to suggest that Tonali is looking elsewhere.
Sandro is absolutely adored on Tyneside, as he was in Milan, but whether that adulation will be enough to keep him at the club long-term, only time will tell. But we certainly hope it is.