Sandro Tonali revealed he decided to join Tottenham within 10 minutes of meeting manager Roberto De Zerbi at his home, completing a transfer that could reach a club-record £100 million with add-ons.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who spent three seasons at Newcastle, said he wanted to secure the best deal for the club because "they deserve everything." De Zerbi contacted Tonali the day after Tottenham beat Everton to avoid relegation from the Premier League. The fee eclipses the £85 million paid for Mateus Fernandes as Tottenham's transfer record.
The pair share a bond through Brescia, their boyhood club, which faces bankruptcy after relegation to Serie C. Tonali served a 10-month ban for FA betting rule breaches while at Newcastle and had preferred a return to Italy, but no Italian club could meet Newcastle's asking price. He also held talks with one other English club before choosing Tottenham.