Manchester United have been linked with Sandro Tonali and the Newcastle United midfielder was pitted against Barcelona in the Champions League.
A 2-1 loss to Newcastle United last week was Manchester United’s first defeat of 2026 and the first under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Frustratingly, Sandro Tonali starred against United, and the Italian midfielder has been identified as a potential replacement for Casemiro ahead of the 2026 summer transfer window.
Tonali wants to play in the Champions League, and the Red Devils are in a strong position to qualify for 2026/27. In the meantime, Tonali was in Champions League action for Newcastle against Barcelona.
What are your thoughts on Manchester United’s supposed interest in Sandro Tonali?
Where should he rank in comparison to other central midfield targets?
Sandro Tonali’s performance for Newcastle vs Barcelona
Newcastle took the lead against Barcelona but conceded a late penalty to take a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League clash.
Tonali played the full 90 minutes of the clash, and his performance will be of interest to United fans who may welcome him as a new signing in the summer.
As per SofaScore, Tonali only earned a 6.3 rating for his performance – only two Newcastle players ranked lower.
| Sandro Tonali vs Barcelona | Stats |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Touches | 49 |
| Passes completed | 71% (24/34) |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Possessions lost | 16 |
| Duels won | 33% (1/3) |
| Errors leading to shot | 1 |
Tonali was not at his best up against a strong Barcelona side, losing the ball on 16 occasions and winning just one duel. Against United, he had a much more productive display, where he created two big chances for his side.
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Sandro Tonali was outclassed by Barcelona’s Pedri
While Tonali struggled, one of the best players on the pitch was his rival midfielder Pedri.
If United spend £100m on Tonali in the summer, Ineos will want a top-class midfielder capable of going toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
However, it was Pedri who came out on top in the duel at St James’ Park. Compared to Tonali, Pedri won six duels, had twice as many ball carries with 16.
Tonali has impressed in the Champions League this season, and one poor performance against Barcelona is not going to scrap Ineos’ transfer plans, but it is worth keeping a keen eye on how the 25-year-old finishes the season.
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