De Ligt pushed Sandro Tonali to join Juventus

Sandro Tonali has shed light on his decision to join AC Milan instead of Juventus when leaving Brescia in 2020. Despite an effort from former Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt to convince him to move to Turin, the midfielder ultimately chose San Siro over the Allianz Stadium.

Tonali’s transfer to Milan initially came as a loan deal in the summer of 2020, which was later made permanent for a total sum of approximately €35 million, including loan fees, transfer costs, and bonuses.

At 25, Tonali revealed that he was seriously considering offers from Inter Milan and Juventus, in addition to Milan. He admitted that he was uncertain about his choice until just days before the summer transfer window closed—despite being a lifelong Rossoneri fan.

Sandro Tonali opted Milan over Juventus?

In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Tonali detailed how he navigated the transfer decision and how De Ligt attempted to sway him toward Juventus.

Newcastle, England – February 12, 2025: Sandro Tonali takes part in a training session at Newcastle United’s training facility. The Italian midfielder was spotted in action as the team prepared for upcoming fixtures. (Image credit: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) 📸

“The Brescia team was in Sardinia, and we happened to meet De Ligt at a restaurant. It was the season affected by COVID, the last time we played against each other in Serie A. He spoke very highly of Juventus and advised me to consider the move,” Tonali recalled, as reported by Milannews.it.

“At the time, I was in talks with Milan. That summer, I was all over the newspapers. It was tough to imagine staying with Brescia in Serie B. Milan, Inter, and Juventus were all pursuing me, and everywhere I turned, people were telling me to join one club or another.”

He further reflected on his financial situation at the time, stating, “Coming off my last year with Brescia, I had been earning just €200,000 per year. That summer was chaotic because I had no clue where I would end up signing. It wasn’t until the final five days that things became clear.”

Credits : Getty Images 📸

Ultimately, Tonali fulfilled a childhood dream by joining Milan. However, he later suggested that achieving so much so young contributed to personal struggles, including issues with gambling.

“In the end, I found myself at Milan—the club I had supported since childhood—signing a contract worth around €2.5 million per year. I told myself, ‘I’ve made it. I’ve arrived.’”

He continued, “Coming from a modest background, I thought, ‘This is enough. I can just enjoy myself now.’ At 21, I was living in Milan with my girlfriend, earning a lot, and playing for my dream club. I felt like I had no more goals left to chase.”

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