Maldini completes a masterstroke with Tonali transfer

AC Milan director Paolo Maldini has convinced Brescia to lower the transfer fee of Sandro Tonali by 10 milllion euros.

In the summer of 2020, AC Milan beat the competition of Europe’s biggest club to sign emerging talent Sandro Tonali. It was also the player’s dreams to join the club he supported since he was a child.

Tonali arrived initially on loan with the option to make the transfer permanent in a deal that would make the 21-year-old one of the most expensive signings in AC Milan history. The Rossoneri had agreed to pay 25 million, plus 10 million in easy reachable bonuses, that would have pushed Tonali’s final fee to 35 million euros.

AC Milan have every intention to exercise their purchase option this summer but tried to get a discount from Brescia. Paolo Maldini had asked president Massimo Cellino to change the payment terms and lower the transfer fee. First because of the difficult economic conditions the clubs are currently facing and secondly due to Sandro’s a bit underwhelming first season at San Siro.

Maldini has completed an absolute masterstroke convincing Brescia to lower the transfer fee by €10 million. President Cellino has accepted to lower the purchase option from 15 million to 10 million and the add-ons from 10 million to 5 million. In total AC Milan will be paying ‘just’ 25 million euros for Sando Tonali. Maldini has managed to secure the highly rated Italian defensive midfielder for a fraction of the €60 million offer Brescia received from Barcelona.

Tonali made 37 appearances across all competitions this season. The Italian talent is expected to feature much more in his second season at San Siro and play a key role since both Kessie and Bennacer will be busy in Africa’s Cup of Nations.

READ MORE: AC Milan set summer transfer budget