Pirlo gives glowing review of Liverpool, Man United-linked Serie A star

Italian legend Andrea Pirlo has tipped Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali for a big future in the game, insisting he is already the best player in Serie A.

The 20-year-old has received plenty of praise for his performances for the Italian side in recent years and has continued to impress despite his team’s struggles in the 2019/20 campaign.

Tonali has featured 24 times for Brescia this term, scoring once, while he also made his international debut in October 2019, coming off the bench as Italy beat Lichenstein 5-0.

And with Brescia looking likely to be relegated when the season is eventually completed, it is almost certain that the youngster will be moving elsewhere in the coming months.

Premier League leaders Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs to have been linked, while Manchester City, Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and PSG are also said to be interested.

Dubbed by some as ‘the next Pirlo’, Tonali is expected to go on to have a successful career in football, which is a view shared by Pirlo himself, who says he has the ability to become a “champion.”

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, cited in The Mirror, Pirlo said: “He is very good but he is different from me on the pitch.

“He has everything to be a champion but he is more a midfielder for a two-man midfield.

 

 

“He could already play for a great team; he is the best in this league.”

Previous reports have suggested United have considered making a £40million offer for Tonali, however it may take a substantially larger bid to prize him away from his current employers.

That is due to the stance of owner Massimo Cellino, formerly of Leeds United, who has stated that he would want more than £300million for his star player.

READ MORE: Liverpool’s pursuit of a Manchester City attacker has hit a dead end after discovering the player has his sights set on a return to the Bundesliga.