Sandro Tonali [8]

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a 10-month ban from all football activities, with a further eight months of mandatory participation in a gambling rehab clinic, for breaches the player made in Italian betting regulations. The ban will take effect immediately, ruling the 23-year old out of the remainder of Newcastle’s season as well as the European Championships next summer if Italy are to qualify. "An agreement has already been reached between the Federal Prosecutor's Office and Sandro Tonali," announced Italian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina in a statement on Thursday. "A plea bargain is planned for 18 months of which eight months will be spent in rehabilitation, some of which will be therapeutic activities and at least 16 in-person meetings as testimony." 

Last summer Premier League clubs spent over €1b on new transfers. Some of it was certainly money well spent, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Alexis Mac Allister and Declan Rice flourishing in their new colours this season. However for some players, for various reasons, it just hasn’t worked out. The pressure of signing for a Premier League club is higher than ever, such is the scrutiny that comes with any wrong move after a high profile transfer. Social media has only heightened that feeling in recent years.