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AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has insisted he had no idea Sandro Tonali had a gambling problem before he was sold to Champions League opponents Newcastle.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old Italy international joined the Magpies in a \u00a355million summer switch from Milan and played in a 0-0 draw against his former club in their Champions League Group F opener at San Siro in September.<\/p>\n
However, he is now serving a 10-month ban for breaches of betting regulations during his time in Italy, robbing the Tyneside club of a key man for the remainder of this season.<\/p>\n
Asked if he knew about Tonali\u2019s problem when he was sold, Pioli said at his press conference at St James\u2019 Park on Tuesday evening: \u201cNo, I didn\u2019t know anything about Sandro\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very polite, respected and respectful to others, he was a very sensible boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if I feel I have an open relationship with the players, I only talk to them about football. What they do outside, I don\u2019t know everything about them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked further if he backed the player to get through his current difficulties, Pioli added: \u201cAbsolutely, yes. His football quality and tactical quality, technical, physical quality, there\u2019s no doubt about him. He\u2019s a great player.<\/p>\n
We’re with him, we’re close to him and we hope this experience will teach him and help him be better in the future<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re close to Sandro. When he was with us, he was a really cheerful, positive young man, close to the team, popular, very important to the team\u2019s rise, applied himself, worked hard, very willing to help the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, he fell into a delicate situation. We\u2019re with him, we\u2019re close to him and we hope this experience will teach him and help him be better in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tonali\u2019s suspension came just 12 games into his Newcastle career, but Pioli is confident the Premier League club will reap the rewards of their investment.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cAt the moment they signed him, it was a good deal, they signed a very good player. Then what happened afterwards, no-one could have expected it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Tonali\u2019s departure left a significant gap in Milan, another was plugged this week when it was announced that former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had returned to the club as a \u201csenior adviser\u201d.<\/p>\n
Asked for his reaction, Pioli said: \u201cZlatan is taking the next step of his career. He\u2019s always been a top character, a top player. He\u2019s faced every challenge with determination, with intelligence and this is a new challenge for him and he\u2019ll show the same personality, the same characteristics to do everything to help the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both sides head into Wednesday night\u2019s game able to finish second, third or fourth in the group, but neither have their fate in their own hands with victory a must if they are to stand any chance of making the last 16.<\/p>\n
Pioli said: \u201cWe\u2019ve got one objective, we\u2019ve only got one chance \u2013 win the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the team will do everything they can to win the game. I know what\u2019s awaiting us, I know what kind of team they are, I know what kind of stadium it is, but our team will do everything we can to come through this big, big challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n