Sandro Tonali is now officially and fully a Milan player. The Rossoneri had to negotiate at length with Brescia, but they managed to acquire him on their own terms. He has agreed to a five-year contract with the club. The 21-year-old midfielder accumulated 25 appearances across all competitions last season.
Milan paid €10M for the loan in 2020 and will add €7M more, plus €3M add-ons and the youngster Giacomo Olzer. The total worth of the package is around €25M. It is a significant discount compared to the original terms of the deal, which included a €15M option to buy and €10M bonuses.
The Rossoneri decided against activating it, but they have always been in a position of strength. In fact, Brescia would have had to give back 40/50 percent of the initial fee if Tonali did not return to Milan. Moreover, the player always prioritized this solution and even agreed to take a pay cut, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
Tonali broke out at Brescia in Serie B starting from 2017 and confirmed his skills in the top division in 2019/2020. Despite his young age, he was very commanding in the midfield and finished with 7 assists in 35 appearances. The Rossoneri won the race with the convoluted formula.
While he had some ups and downs in his first year at Milan, the management are betting on his potential. Moreover, they avoided the same mistake they have made with other youngsters in the past. For instance, they gave up too early on Manuel Locatelli and Matteo Pessina, who broke out elsewhere.