Dan Ashworth (centre) watches Sandro Tonali talk to his new team-mate Kieran Trippier after joining Newcastle. Photo: Getty Images/Serena Taylor
As Dan Ashworth waits to find out when he can start work as Manchester United's new director of football, the last thing he wants is to be reminded of a costly mistake. which he committed during his tenure as leader. from Newcastle.
Ashworth did a lot of good things during his 18 months as sporting director at Newcastle, but signing Sandro Tonali was not one of them.
The second most expensive player he bought during his time on Tyneside has left him with an ignominious legacy that is back in the spotlight.
Newcastle thought they had pulled off a major coup , when he signed the Italy international from Milan for £56 million in July, but it turned out to be a disaster.
In October, following an investigation by the Italian Football Association, Tonali was exposed as a serial gambler who had repeatedly broken gambling rules at Brescia and Milan.
In England, the Football Association has now confirmed that he continued to gamble games after signing for Newcastle, releasing a statement on Thursday confirming he faces a further 50 charges.
Tonali's agent admitted in October that his Client was a drug addict and spoke publicly about the player's personal problems before his punishment was confirmed. Newcastle's splashy summer signing was promptly handed a 10-month worldwide ban by the Italian FA.
Newcastle's desire to support the player and Tonali's sincere remorse when he confessed and his willingness to cooperate with the authorities both in Italy and England, aroused sympathy. Gambling addiction, like any other, destroys lives, and Tonali did just that.
“It was his responsibility to carry out the necessary due diligence.”
However, there is no doubt that the controversy leaves a stain on Ashworth's reputation. It was his responsibility as sporting director to carry out the necessary due diligence on every new player, and this was a serious issue that he failed to uncover.
Newcastle spent a large amount of money, especially given budgetary constraints on profit and sustainability development last summer, on a player who made just 12 appearances for the club and will not play for them again until the end of August.
Milan claim they had no idea Tonali had a gambling problem — and sources told Telegraph Sport he went to great lengths to keep it a secret — but it was Newcastle and Ashworth who were left to carry the bank.< /p>
The Italian club was ready to sell one of its crown jewels, and the Newcastle management could not believe their luck. It's like the old saying: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Newcastle cannot prove that Milan knew anything about Tonali's gambling problem and they privately told Telegraph Sport that they believe the Italian club is when they say they are not.
< Milan continue to categorically deny any knowledge of the Italian FA's investigation, saying the need to sell Tonali last summer was purely financial.
In turn, Ashworth, speaking to reporters in November, insisted that no one could have known about the player's personal problems of this kind when he kept his addiction a secret from others.
There is a point in his words , but that doesn't mean he didn't make a mistake. It was Ashworth who flew to Milan to complete the negotiations. It was Ashworth who spoke with the player and his representatives and met with his family. It was also his responsibility to do background checks, no matter how difficult or inconvenient they might be.
There are, of course, mitigating circumstances, but Newcastle's season was nevertheless badly damaged by the loss of Tonali in October. It was he who signed for coach Eddie Howe's first team and was suspended for 10 months.
It is unlikely that the FA will extend Tonali's ban, although that will be decided by an independent panel. next month.
Newcastle believes the punishment will be applied concurrently
In all of Newcastle's conversations with the game's governing body, they were led to believe that his punishment for playing games while a registered player in England would run concurrently with the existing 10-month ban.
This would be the correct result. Tonali was severely punished once, and that was enough. He needs help and support in his fight against addiction, not an even longer ban. The 23-year-old has already lost enough in his playing career. It would be cruel to deprive him of even more.
But as Ashworth sits at home, put on gardening leave at Newcastle after telling them he wanted the Manchester United job, it's a painful reminder of the mistake he and Newcastle made.
If they had any inclination due to gambling problems they would not have signed Tonali. It is so simple. And since Ashworth signed it, his fingerprints cannot be erased.
It may be cruel, but that is the nature of the business he is in. Football managers take the blame when results are poor and sporting directors do the same when transfer mistakes are made.
Ashworth is one of the best sporting directors in the world, which is why Manchester United wanted him, even despite the fact that they will have to pay large compensation to release him early from his gardening leave, which will last until the end of 2025.
But he left Newcastle, signing for a huge sum of money a player who barely hit the ball. It's a mistake he won't be able to make again when he eventually takes over at Old Trafford.
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