Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has heaped praise on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, naming the Italian as the best midfielder in England ahead of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan in a £55 million deal, has quickly established himself as a key figure in Eddie Howe’s side. The 24-year-old played 45 matches in all competitions last season, helping the Magpies secure Champions League qualification and lift the Carabao Cup.
Speaking on The Overlap, Scholes admitted he has been particularly impressed by Tonali’s all-round ability and composure, describing him as the complete modern midfielder.
“Right now? That’s tough,” Scholes began. “I still don’t class Moises Caicedo as an all-round midfield player. He was brilliant the other day, and he scored a great goal, but I prefer the controlling type of midfielders who play with a bit more style and can score goals more often than Caicedo.
“It was a fantastic strike against Liverpool, but you wouldn’t expect him to do that again for another 18 months. He’s brilliant at breaking up play, one of the best at it, but I prefer midfielders who dictate games.”
The former England international also spoke highly of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister before turning his focus to Tonali.
“Mac Allister was absolutely brilliant last season. He controlled a lot of games, and I think Liverpool are missing that right now,” Scholes continued. “But I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant, very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.”
When pressed on whether Tonali was genuinely his pick as the best midfielder in the Premier League, Scholes didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, you’re going to say Declan Rice, but I think Tonali is better,” he said. “I really like Rice, don’t get me wrong. He’s got everything. Sometimes he just takes a few too many touches and tries to look a bit more stylish than he needs to.
“He can do everything, but I don’t think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali, but they’re both top players.”
Scholes’s remarks are likely to spark debate among fans, as Tonali continues to shine under Eddie Howe’s management while Rice remains one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers.
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