Pep Guardiola to watch €35m Chelsea target during int’l break
Man City boss Pep Guardiola will head to Milan this weekend to scout the new Andrea Pirlo – Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to a report.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that a City scout was present on Sunday at Rigamonti Stadium to watch the 18-year-old midfielder score in Brescia’s 4-2 win over Verona in Serie B.
Tonali thumped home from 30 yards after picking up a short free-kick and also made a fine assist in a performance that must have impressed watching scouts. So much so that Guardiola is expected to make a check on Tonali on Saturday in Italy’s game against Portugal or alternatively against USA in Genk next Tuesday.
Chelsea, Inter, Juventus and Roma are also believed to be watching the long-haired midfielder, who has been likened to Italian maestro Pirlo.
The playmaker was wanted by long-term admirer Maurizio Sarri a year ago when he was Napoli boss. And last month The Sun claimed Chelsea will make an offer of £20million in January to ward off interest from the Italian giants.
Brescia coach Roberto Boscaglia said recently: “Tonali will become a great player. I don’t want to make any comparisons but in the game’s dynamics he has got something special, like Pirlo.”
Tonali has won his first call up to the 27-man Azzurri squad after Roberto Mancini acknowledged his progress, despite playing in Italy’s second tier.
Il Mattino reported recently that Brescia had informed Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis that it would cost €35m to sign Tonali.
