Brescia President Massimo Cellino says it will be up to Sandro Tonali to decide his future, but he won’t stand in the youngsters way.
The 19-year-old midfielder is one of the most in demand players in Europe with a number of Serie A and Premier League side interested in signing him.
“In January, a very important team came to me and told me they wanted Tonali,” Cellino told Tuttosport.
“I didn’t come up with any numbers, but only one question: ‘Would you let him play in the Champions League immediately?’
“They replied they would leave him at Brescia until the end of the season. So, I told them: ‘Thanks, but then I’ll keep him completely, and we can talk about it in July’.
“In February, I received another very important request and I didn’t tell Tonali anything, with the intent of giving him a nice surprise in June. The name of the team, I can’t say, but unfortunately the coronavirus has changed everything.
“My dream would be to keep him; I would be willing to do somersaults. But I have a deal with Sandro, who is a great lad. He knows that when he asks me to leave, I will let him go. I will not make it a matter of price; the important thing is that he chooses with the heart. And he is the only one who decides.”
“Anyway, I’m not sure if Tonali supported Milan, but for sure, I know he loved Gattuso. So, Napoli? One thing was the player, another thing is the coach. It changes everything.
“For Nainggolan, during my time at Cagliari, I gave up Juve’s money because I was convinced that Radja needed the warmth of Roma, and I was right.
“Tonali is a colder boy from the North. But inside, he is sentimental. That’s why, since I’m romantic, I would like to see him in Rome or Naples. But it will hardly happen. I would prefer, however, that he stayed in Italy.
“Juve have developed a lot under Agnelli and Paratici. There’s a foreign owner at Inter and I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him.
“But they have Marotta, a top manager for whom I have great respect. We will see, it depends on Tonali, he’ll be the one to choose. But I hope he will stay in Italy and I hope he plays.”