“He should do athletics” – Newcastle star labelled “poor”, should consider career change

Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali should consider a career change to athletics, as all he does is run.

That’s according to Antonio Cassano, who is clearly not a fan of the Newcastle midfielder. He’s been speaking about the 25-year-old in comments relayed by Calciomercato.

The former Italian striker turned mouthpiece has been peaking to Il Messaggero about the Italian national team.

The Blues are currently battling to qualify for the 2026 FIFA Worl Cup via the European play-offs. They’ve missed the last two tournaments in 2018 and 2022 and now face a critical-play off to avoid making that a third.

World Cup jeopardy

That comes after they finished second in Group I behind Norway, failing to secure automatic qualification. They host Northern Ireland in a single-leg play-off semi-final in March. If they defeat them, they fae Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina later that month.

It’s something of a dire situation for a side who at the second-most successful nation in World Cup history, tied with Germany.

That’s led to significant and growing criticism directed at them from fans, media and former players. Cassano is one of those who isn’t cautious about sharing such opinions. And now his focus appears to be on Newcastle’s star man.

“It’s poor, but I’m convinced that Gattuso, with his ideas, will steer the ship right and we’ll reach the World Cup,” he said.

“The only champion is Donnarumma. Pio Esposito? He’s twenty years old and we consider him a rookie: Totti and I made our debuts at seventeen.

“He should do athletics”

“Tonali plays in the Premier League and never gets it. He runs and runs… he should do athletics. He and Barella are poor. Barella used to run, but now he doesn’t. We need quality. I like Vergara.”

The question is whether anyone listens. It would be surprising if Tonali, a Premier League star at this point, cares what Cassano thinks.

Sport Witness have covered him extensively in the last few months. Indeed, a report earlier this month has his agent playing down transfer rumours because Tonali wants to focus on getting Italy to the World Cup.

That, perhaps, is the kind of mentality that Italy need, rather than Cassano criticisng players like Tonali.