James Maddison has sent a touching welcome message to Sandro Tonali after Tottenham Hotspur officially announced the Italian’s arrival.
Tonali has become the club’s sixth signing of the summer window, with Spurs paying a club-record £100m to Newcastle United for the midfielder.
He is expected to partner Mateus Fernandes in a new-look Tottenham midfield next season as Roberto De Zerbi looks to take the club back up to the top end of the Premier League table.
The Lilywhites got fan favourite Sandro to record a welcome message for Fernandes last week, and it is now Maddison’s turn to welcome Tonali to N17.
James Maddison tells Sandro Tonali why he will love playing in front of Tottenham fans
Maddison sent a touching message to his new teammate, Tonali, admitting he is looking forward to being at the end of his passes rather than his tackles.
The attacking midfielder shared that the supporters made him fall in love with the club as soon as he arrived through the door, and told the Italy international that he will feel the fans’ support every time he steps onto the pitch in a Lilywhite shirt.
Maddison said on Tottenham’s social media platform: “Must be a big signing. Sandro, welcome to Tottenham, mate. When I joined, the first place I went was the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, just to feel it. The fans pulled me in straight away and I know they’ll do the same for you. They’ll see it in the way you play, the bite, the courage and the way you step up in the middle of the pitch.
“It’s going to be a nice feeling being on the receiving end of your passes instead of your tackles. People say that the supporters are there for the good and the bad, but trust me, mate, I’ve seen it and I’ve felt it. You’ll hear them, you’ll see them every single week without fail. Welcome to the Spurs family. It’s a responsibility, it’s a privilege and more than that it’s an honour. This is yours now too.”
Roberto De Zerbi is over the moon to have Tonali at Spurs
Tonali has admitted he is delighted to be at Tottenham, stressing that the two-hour phone call with De Zerbi convinced him that a move to N17 would be the right step for him.
De Zerbi has described the midfielder as a ‘special player and great signing’ for Spurs, confessing that he has followed the 26-year-old closely for a long time.
The Italian coach also revealed that Tottenham had to beat out a lot of clubs to Tonali’s signature and assured Spurs fans that they will love watching him play.
- READ MORE: ‘Blood and energy’ – Mateus Fernandes reveals what De Zerbi told him about joining Tottenham