Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali has taken a voluntary pay cut due to his “guilt” over a betting ban.
The 23-year-old Italy international, who joined the Magpies in a £55million switch from AC Milan last summer, is serving a 10-month worldwide suspension for breaching betting rules in his native country, but avoided an extension on Thursday when the Football Association handed him a suspended ban for similar offences.
As it stands, Tonali, who had made just 12 appearances for his new club when the initial sanction was imposed, will be free to return to action at the end of August. The Magpies boss revealed that Tonali, who earns around £200,000-per-week, insisted on the salary slash as a way to express his regret for his action.
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Howe said that Tonali’s move to take a pay cut “was something he wanted to do and he felt the guilt after joining a new club”. He praised the midfielder’s gesture, saying it shows Tonali is a stand-up guy who is eager to make amends and get back to playing for Newcastle, reports the Mirror.
Howe added: “When this started he was very keen to hold his hands up and help everyone uncover it all. He was sorry for what he had done. He deserves credit for that and helps him mentally to put him behind it.
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“It is the right decision. The ban is not extended and Sandro is working hard behind the scenes and has trained well. We are supporting him as he serves this time.
“I see a fraction of his life. He is a good pro and trains well and is relatively quiet in the group. That is his personality. He is focused on improving his game. I am sure he has had difficult moments over the last few months.
“But I see hunger there all the time. He has done lots of work on his own because he has missed games. Gym work, we have worked on his speed. He has used the time in a positive way.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Howe conceded Tonali’s suspension had added to a “turbulent” season that has been plagued by injuries. The former Bournemouth boss added: “You accidentally put him in the team and then think ‘oh, no I can’t’.
“I know what difference he would have made this year. We’d have won more big games. I hope some good comes from it and he has adapted to the English style and Premier League and so he can look at it and say it helped me settle into England.”