Pioli knew nothing about 'sensible' Tonali's gambling issues![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-38b6c0e79d99f1789ecdee667813501e.svg)
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![Sandro Tonali won the Serie A title under Stefano Pioli at Milan](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/12122023/ba38dfdc-8a2c-43b3-bb08-da1aee836fb2.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli is backing Sandro Tonali to bounce back from his ten-month ban after illegal betting charges.
The Newcastle midfielder, signed from the Serie A side in the summer, made 12 appearances for his new club before the punishment was enforced.
And Pioli has insists he was unaware of the 23-year-old's off-the-pitch issues ahead of his side's Champions League clash with Newcastle at St James' Park.
He said: "He [Tonali] was very polite, respected and respectful to others, he was a very sensible boy.
"Even if I feel I have an open relationship with the players, I only talk to them about football. What they do outside, I don’t know everything about them.
"His football quality and tactical quality, technical, physical quality, there’s no doubt about him. He’s a great player.
"We’re 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’s rise, applied himself, worked hard, very willing to help the team.
![Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle for £55million in July](https://uk1.sportal365images.com/process/smp-image-api/livescore.com/12122023/536fb0f3-0dcf-43a3-aa8c-76f7bfa2ec86.jpg?operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
"Unfortunately, he fell into a delicate situation. 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.
"At the moment they [Newcastle] signed him, it was a good deal, they signed a very good player. Then what happened afterwards, no-one could have expected it."
Pioli was also asked about Zlatan Ibrahimovic's new role as an advisor at Milan.
He added: "Zlatan is taking the next step of his career.
"He’s always been a top character, a top player.
"He’s faced every challenge with determination, with intelligence and this is a new challenge for him and he’ll show the same personality, the same characteristics to do everything to help the club."