Tonali's World Cup qualifier assist and goal impress Bruno Fernandes! Gentleman's agreement for transfer revealed, Manchester United ahead of Real Madrid

In Thursday's World Cup qualifier European playoff, Tonali contributed an assist and a goal, helping Italy defeat Northern Ireland 2-0 to advance to the final, where they will face Bosnia led by veteran Dzeko, leaving just one final step to reach the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup.

The 25-year-old Tonali first scored with a non-stop volley outside the penalty area, giving Italy a 1-0 lead and receiving a standing ovation from the fans.

Later, Tonali sprinted forward, beating the opponent to cushion the ball into the box, creating an opportunity for Moise Keane to dribble past and score, securing the victory. Undoubtedly, this Newcastle United midfield core was the best player of the match.

Tonali's performance not only won over the fans but also impressed the Manchester United scouts present. British media revealed that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes strongly supports signing this Italian midfield powerhouse and hopes to play alongside him in the future.

The British Daily Mail reported that Bruno Fernandes would be very pleased if Tonali joins this summer. Fernandes has expressed to Manchester United his support for acquiring Tonali. The Red Devils captain has faced Tonali multiple times and is impressed, particularly by the Italian's stamina, still able to sprint with the ball at 94 minutes.

The newspaper also disclosed that Manchester United knows of a gentleman's agreement between Tonali and Newcastle, so they are expected to formally pursue him after this season ends. Tonali cannot fully replicate Casemiro's role at Manchester United, such as his heading and goal-scoring abilities certainly not matching the "Fat Tiger," but he can partially replace the Brazilian superstar's functions.

British media stated that if Newcastle fails to qualify for European competitions, according to their agreement, Tonali can choose to transfer. Teams linked with him include Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Real Madrid among other top European clubs.

According to Shields Gazette, Tonali and his agent believe they have reached a gentleman's agreement with Newcastle. If Eddie Howe's team fails to secure European qualification, the club will not obstruct Tonali's transfer, despite his contract extending beyond 2029.

Newcastle participated in the Champions League this season but unfortunately lost to Barcelona in the round of 16. They currently rank 12th in the Premier League, just overtaken by rival Sunderland after a late reversal. Even though fifth place in the Premier League ensures Champions League qualification, the "Magpies" hopes remain slim.

Currently, Liverpool ranks fifth with 49 points, Newcastle's 42 points trail by 7 points, and more importantly, even if they win all remaining 7 matches, they depend on other teams' results; between Liverpool and Newcastle, there are six teams, unlikely all to decline.

Newcastle faces difficulty securing European qualification; Chelsea (48 points) and Brentford (46 points) occupy Europa League spots, Everton (46 points) holds a Conference League position. Moreover, even if Newcastle grabs Europa League or Conference League spots, it's uncertain whether Tonali would be satisfied and stay.

Once the club misses Champions League qualification, they could lose nearly £100 million in potential revenue; from financial regulation perspective, Newcastle may have to sell one or two key players to fill financial gaps. Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, Anthony Gordon, and Tino Livramento are potential candidates for sale.

This season, Tonali scored 3 goals and provided 7 assists for Newcastle, attracting many buyers. British media disclosed that Real Madrid scouts observed Tonali's performance against Manchester City earlier this month. In 2023, Newcastle spent £55 million to acquire Tonali from AC Milan; they won't sell at a loss and will demand a significant profit, requiring at least £80 million fixed transfer fee, potentially reaching £100 million with add-ons.

This season, Tonali revealed he would consider leaving St James' Park in the future. "In football, you must plan long-term. I won't say I'll stay here for 10 years, then leave after two, three, four, or five years," Tonali said. "I consider my future year by year; that's the harsh reality of professional football. Last summer, the club faced transfer difficulties, same for Isak. But that's football. If you have an opportunity to join another team, you need to weigh all factors. I won't promise to stay here for 10 years. But I'm happy at Newcastle and not considering a transfer now."

The Daily Mail stated that while many top clubs are interested in Tonali, considering his valuation, only Premier League and La Liga giants can afford him, among these teams Manchester United currently leads. The paper's Craig Hope said: "Recent weeks linked Tonali with every major club from Barcelona, Real Madrid to Arsenal, Manchester City, but according to my information over the past 48 hours, Manchester United is currently leading at the front."