I never felt alone, says Sandro Tonali as he reveals how he coped with betting ban

Newcastle midfielder says support from Eddie Howe, team-mates and fans helped him deal with 10 months on the sidelines

Sandro Tonali has revealed he never felt alone during his 10-month ban for breaking gambling rules thanks to the love shown towards him by Newcastle United’s fans and the support of his manager and team-mates.
In a raw and honest interview, his first since he was hit with a worldwide ban after admitting he had a gambling addiction, Tonali described the difficult first few months as he struggled to cope with what had happened to him just a few weeks after he had signed for Newcastle from AC Milan.
But with the help of a psychologist, as well as therapy sessions back home in Italy, Tonali wants to help others who have similar problems with addiction as well as repay the faith shown in him on Tyneside.
“I’ve never been alone in these 10 months and that is so important for me,” said Tonali, who will make his first appearance for Newcastle since October last year against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
“It was very, very difficult in October, November and December. I feel this is a new time, after 10 months, I’m in another point in my life. I’m feeling good now. I want to say thank you to everyone in Newcastle. I am happy here, there is nowhere else I want to be.
“Yes, 10 months is a long time, especially because a footballer lives for Sundays, so it was hard work. I did work though, I trained every day, even more than when I was playing.
“I was lucky enough to find all the people who work here at Newcastle who were always by my side, always close and this helped me a lot. It really did. From the first day in October to today I had constant support from everyone.
“There isn’t a single person who did not show me support, same with the fans. They gave me the same love they’d have given me if I’d been here for 10 years and I’d only just arrived a few months previously. It made me think a lot, it also made me realise what Newcastle fans are made of.
“The fans are crazy, every game I wanted to be on the pitch because I want to play for the fans first and for me second. I don’t think there are fans in any other city anywhere in the world who would show this for a player who cannot play for 10 months. It’s fantastic for me.”
Tonali has only returned to his homeland for meetings to address his gambling addiction and the Italy international hopes he can help others who are also battling similar illnesses by encouraging them to seek help.
“I went back to Italy 16 times for 16 meetings with the federation,” he explained in an interview with NUFC TV. “And with some kids, and it was so important for me and the young players.
“This problem is a problem for life. For the football player, it is a little bit lucky because I work in football and I don’t have the same problems as normal people. They have to get up in the morning and go to work, the problem is the same but their life is so different.
“The psychologist has helped me and the young players in Italy helped me as part of my therapy. I want to help people like me. I’m in a lucky position. I can play football again and my life is the same…
“Just talking helps a lot. Especially in the first three months I met a lot of people, with ordinary jobs, especially in Newcastle who had this problem and who had never spoken before now.
“And they did so when it all came out, when the articles came out and my problem was made public. So, after this they decided to get help and stop bottling things up, so this made me very happy. These people got help just by talking.
“The first step, the biggest step, is just by talking about this huge thing you are carrying inside of you. You have this enormous sort of block and this is the biggest step to take to resolve this problem.”
Tonali also reserved special praise for Eddie Howe, who he described as “his first friend in Newcastle” and who has been there whenever he has needed emotional or mental support.
And Newcastle’s manager is excited to unleash his £53 million signing on English football again.
“He’s a very strong guy,“ said Howe. “He’s handled this situation so well. He’s shown real strength, dignity, integrity, he’s been really strong because he’s been isolated at times.
“It hasn’t always been easy for him. He’s had some low moments and some lonely moments where the team has been playing.
“I think we’ll get a different player back, a stronger player mentally, someone who will enjoy his football and probably appreciate every moment because it has been taken away from him for a long period of time so hopefully we get the benefits of that.”
Asked if Tonali had a debt to repay, Howe replied: “I don’t know if debt is the right word. Sandro will naturally feel like he wants to repay everyone at Newcastle for the trust that we’ve shown in him when we signed him.
“Whenever you go to a new club, there is always that want to show everyone your qualities and give to the team. I’m sure all of those things are there for him.
“We have just handled the situation as we think best and tried to support the human rather than looking at him as a footballer, first and foremost.”