Newcastle United

The Italian football federation (FIGC) reached an agreement with Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali on a 10-month ban after he gambled on matches.

FIGC president Gabriele Gravina confirmed Tonali's plea agreement includes eight months of rehabilitation. Tonali's agent said the 23-year-old is suffering from a gambling addiction.

"The rules call for a certain number of years of suspension, but the plea bargain and extenuating circumstances have been taken into consideration and the players' collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves," Gravina said to Sky Sports Italia (via the BBC).

On Friday, FIFA extended the ban worldwide, making the suspension immediate and ruling him out of Newcastle's match on Saturday against Wolves.

Tonali was implicated in a wider scandal across Italian soccer. Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli already received a seven-month ban, and Aston Villa also confirmed midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo is cooperating with authorities.

Tonali admitted in a hearing before the FIGC to gambling on matches while playing for AC Milan in Serie A. ESPN noted he faced a suspension of up to three years because of the offense.

While he avoided the worst-case scenario, the Italy international will not only miss the remainder of the 2023-24 Premier League season, but he will also be ineligible for Euro 2024. The Azzurri have yet to qualify with two matches remaining.

Newcastle signed Tonali from Milan for £55 million this past summer as the club looks to build on its fourth-place finish last season. He had a bright start for the Magpies, scoring in their 5-1 victory over Aston Villa to open the domestic campaign.

Before the suspension was handed down, manager Eddie Howe said Newcastle will continue to support Tonali as the process unfolded.

"I see the person, I see the human, I see the pain and distress," he told reporters. "That's why my thoughts are always with the player and making sure we look after him. Sandro loves the game and is absolutely devastated.

"His thoughts are with us and our thoughts are with him. Hopefully between us we can make it work. The most important thing is Sandro and his welfare. It's very easy for people to forget how young he is, the changes he's had in his life coming from Italy to England. Footballers are human beings."

Former Ghana winger Christian Atsu was found dead under rubble in Turkey after he went missing following the earthquake in the country last week.

Murat Uzunmehmet, Atsu's agent, confirmed Atsu's death while speaking to reporters in Hatay on Saturday.

"Atsu's lifeless body was found under the rubble," Uzunmehmet said. "Currently, more items are still being taken out. His phone was also found."

Nana Sechere, who also represented Atsu, tweeted a message about the 31-year-old after his body was discovered:

Per Kareem El Damanhoury and Yusuf Gezer of CNN.com, Atsu had been missing since Feb. 6, when a magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.

Hatayspor, Atsu's Turkish club, said on Twitter (h/t El Damanhoury and Gezer) that Atsu's body will be sent to Ghana.

"Peace be upon you, beautiful person. There are no words to describe our sadness," Hatayspor's statement said.

Per the latest update from Kevin Doyle, Usaid Siddiqui and Linah Alsaafin of AlJazeera.com, more than 45,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria thus far as a result of the earthquakes.

Atsu made 65 appearances for Ghana in international competition from 2012 to 2019. He started all three matches for Ghana in group play during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

In addition to his international career, Atsu also played for English Premier League clubs Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle United and Bournemouth after beginning his senior career in Portugal with Porto.

Atsu scored the only goal of the game in his final appearance for Hatayspor on Feb. 5 in a 1-0 win over Kasimpasa in Turkish Super Lig play.

Cristiano Ronaldo does not have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Al-Nassr for Newcastle United next season, according to Mark Ogden of ESPN.

After the Saudi Arabian club announced the superstar's signing last week, Marca reported Ronaldo can go on loan at Newcastle United in 2023-24 if the club qualifies for Champions League. The Magpies, which are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, currently sit in third place in the Premier League, with the top four clubs in the table at the end of the season granted a place in Europe's top club competition.

Sources at the club said this report is "fake," per Ogden.

Ronaldo signed a two-and-half-year deal with Al-Nassr that will pay him $75 million annually. According to Fabrizio Romano, he could make €200 million per year when adding commercial deals.

The 37-year-old had been seeking a move to a Champions League club since the summer transfer window, per ESPN's Rob Dawson. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner competed in the UCL in 19 straight seasons with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, winning the competition five times.

After a move to Manchester United in 2021-22, the club finished sixth in the Premier League and failed to qualify for this year's Champions League.

Ronaldo was unable to find a new home over the summer, leading to a contentious start of the season with Manchester United before the two sides mutually parted ways in November. After scoring 18 Premier League goals last year, the veteran had just one goal in 10 appearances (four starts) in 2022-23.

The move to Al-Nassr offers a fresh start in a new location, although the Newcastle link would make sense. If the club finishes in the top four of the EPL, it will qualify for Champions League for the first time since 2002-03 and could use an experienced goal scorer like Ronaldo. The forward would also likely enjoy a return to England and the opportunity for UCL action.

However, the reports are seemingly untrue, and Ronaldo will be committed to Al-Nassr for the forseeable future.

Newcastle United reportedly has "no interest" in the potential signing of superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo following his release by Manchester United on Tuesday.

ESPN's Rob Dawson reported Wednesday that United hasn't placed any restrictions on where CR7 can sign following the mutual termination of his contract, but the Magpies have "ruled out" the idea despite prior transfer rumors involving the fellow Premier League club.

In October, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe pushed aside the original Ronaldo speculation, saying the club was instead focused on a "longer-term vision."

"At the moment, we have quite an aging squad, so we probably need to invest in more young players," Howe told reporters. "That's probably a big part of our progression, really. We need to get the average age down, so it might not be a signing that we would necessarily look to make—but not underestimating the quality of the player."

There were questions about whether that stance could change with Newcastle sitting third in the Premier League table at the World Cup break, but it sounds like the club still won't pursue the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Meanwhile, Dawson noted Ronaldo's representatives are hopeful to restart talks with Chelsea, whose new owner Todd Boehly showed interest over the summer before being waved off by manager Thomas Tuchel, who was subsequently fired in September.

Renewed interest is also expected to come from Saudi Arabia, where an unnamed club made a substantial contract offer worth £2 million per week during the summer window, per Dawson.

The number of clubs involved could depend heavily on how well Ronaldo performs for Portgual's national team during the World Cup. It'll be an opportunity for the 37-year-old legend to showcase his form after being sparsely involved at Old Trafford this season.

A strong showing in Qatar would help him create more potential suitors, including the possibility of Champions League clubs looking for attacking depth for the rest of the term.

Since his contract was terminated, he's eligible to sign at any time without having to wait for the January transfer window. It may still take several weeks for him to find a new club as he focuses his efforts on trying to lead his national side to a World Cup title, though.

Portugal begins play in Qatar on Thursday with a Group H opener against Ghana.

The Newcastle United Football Club announced Thursday it has officially been sold to an ownership group with ties to Saudi Arabia.

The team was sold for $415 million (£305 million), per The Telegraph's Uche Amako. The investment group is led by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and also comprises PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media.

An agreement was originally reached in April 2020, but the PIF—a state investment fund overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—failed to pass the Premier League's owners' and directors' test at the time. Prior to the completion of the sale, the Premier League had to receive legal assurances regarding the ownership of the team.

The Premier League said in a statement: "The legal disputes concerned which entities would own and/or have the ability to control the club following the takeover. ... The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club."

The sale to a Saudi Arabia-led investment group is sure to ignite controversy, considering the country's human rights record and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was vocally critical of the Saudi government and his murder was found by the U.S. intelligence community to have been directly ordered by bin Salman.

The move was met with opposition from human rights groups, most notably Amnesty International. Prior to the acquisition becoming official, Amnesty International chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said on Wednesday that his organization had "urged the Premier League to change their owners' and directors' test to address human rights issues," per the BBC.

Amnesty International warned the Premier League that Saudi Arabia is attempting to fix its reputation by "sportswashing."

"As with Formula One, elite boxing, golf or tennis, an association with top-tier football is a very attractive means of rebranding a country or person with a tarnished reputation," Deshmukh said. "The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules."

Multiple reports say the finalization of the deal was facilitated by the end of a longstanding piracy dispute with Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports, which owns rights to show Premier League matches in the Middle East. The broadcaster had been banned in Saudi Arabia, but its content was then allegedly pirated by a Saudi-state-run broadcaster beoutQ.

After beIN Corporation launched an international investment arbitration against Saudi Arabia seeking damages of more than $1 billion, the Saudis reportedly sought to reach a settlement. The Premier League was able to focus on settling its other disputes with Saudi Arabia once the broadcast rights were no longer an issue.

Newcastle United expressed its satisfaction with the acquisition, saying in a press release that the deal "benefits all stakeholders and will leave Newcastle United well-placed to pursue a clear, long-term strategy"

"We are extremely proud to become the new owners of Newcastle United, one of the most famous clubs in English football," Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, said in the press release. "We thank the Newcastle fans for their tremendously loyal support over the years and we are excited to work together with them."

Newcastle United is winless in the 2021-22 Premier League season with three draws and four losses. The club will be back in action Oct. 17 against Tottenham Hotspur.

Newcastle United's potential £300 million takeover by a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium has not even been completed, yet big-name transfer rumours are already landing on Tyneside.

Antoine Griezmann, Edinson Cavani, Philippe Coutinho and Timo Werner are among the elite talent suddenly tipped to arrive, while Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri are both linked to become the side's next manager.

It's undoubtedly an exciting time for supporters, but now they need to separate fantasy from reality, because the superstars and glory days will not arrive overnight.

The simple truth is they cannot blitz the transfer market this summer. The prospect of buying success in a manner similar to Chelsea or Manchester City in the past is almost impossible with current financial fair play rules.

But B/R reached out to several sources with insight on the takeover from PCP Capital Partners, which is headed by Amanda Staveley and backed by the Saudi Arabia royal family's Public Investment Fund, and the feeling is that they could still spend up to £150 million in the next transfer window.

The message is that we should expect signings to arrive once the takeover is signed off, which could be in in the next two to three weeks.

It is understood the new consortium are under no illusions about how they must approach the task in hand at Newcastle. Their ambitions are big, but the road to the very top might take a few years. It could take time to break into the Premier League's traditional big six—which is the ultimate goal.

Forget about names like Griezmann, Cavani and Werner for now. That tier of player will not arrive this year because of the team's current status as much as anything to do with financing.

Newcastle have not won a major trophy since 1955 and are placed 13th in the table this season. To use one example, a source told B/R, "Edinson Cavani has not jumped at a transfer to Atletico Madrid and has also turned down offers from clubs in Italy so far, so why would he want to join Newcastle?"

For now, there's no Champions League-level boss arriving either. Current manager Steve Bruce will see out this season, and at this stage, insiders are adamant there has been no approach for Pochettino, or Allegri, or anyone else.  

But with all this said, changes will start to be implemented this summer, and the most exciting prospect being mooted among those in the know is of a new No. 9.

While the names already mentioned here might not turn up at Newcastle, it is understood they will look to recruit a proven goalscorer.

Newcastle are expected to look at players in the bracket beneath Griezmann and Co., with Lyon's Moussa Dembele mentioned to B/R as a possible option.

Coutinho seems to have been linked out of circumstance more than substance, given his career at Barcelona is in flux and he has a desire to return to the Premier League. So it is difficult to read too much into that situation just yet.

However, the fact the club do not have a huge wage bill at this time is going to be a bonus when it comes to drawing up targets. We have seen at clubs such as Arsenal how a hefty wage bill can impact on potential signings.

Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton are the current highest earners, with Shelvey on around £80,000 a week and the Brazilian forward picking up slightly more. Joelinton was brought in as the club's new £40 million star striker last year but has scored just one goal from 27 Premier League starts.

Coutinho earns approximately £240,000 a week—three times what Shelvey makes—so a signing like that would make a significant difference to the pay structure. 

Away from signings, there are plenty of exciting, and intriguing, things to look out for once this takeover gets the green light.

A few of the plans suggested to B/R are: 

- Work to begin immediately on the academy and training ground to make it one of the best places in the country to get a football education. 

- A director of football is almost certain to be brought in—and that appointment will provide the spark for further changes behind the scenes. It might even be the trigger that leads to a new manager.

- Look out for a major event happening at St James' Park, as the new ownership team aim to win over the city. One insider told B/R there had already been talk about the idea of staging a world heavyweight boxing fight at the stadium.

This takeover is a big deal, and it really could lead to some amazing times for Newcastle United.

Listen to Dean on the B/R Football Ranks podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe here.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made himself a surprise candidate to buy Newcastle United.  

At an event in the the city on Sunday, he responded to a question about potentially taking over the Premier League club with a tease likely to excite many Magpies fans.

Per TMZ Sports, the former six-weight boxing champion said:

"In the U.S. we call it soccer, but the Newcastle football team is an unbelievable team. If the people want me to buy the Newcastle team, let me know."

Newcastle's current owner, Mike Ashley, took over the club in 2007.

He is not a popular figure at St. James' Park, and it has recently been reported that a £340 million takeover involving the Saudi royal family could be in the offing, per MailOnline's Craig Hope.

Per TMZ Sports, Mayweather, 43, made in the region of $1 billion (£756.5 million) during his boxing career.

The American's first professional bout was against Roberto Apodaca in October 1996, and after winning his most recent fight against Conor McGregor in August 2017, he bowed out of the sport for a third time with a perfect 50-0 record.

Money said at the end of last year, though, that he would come out of retirement in 2020:

It would help with funding any bid he might make for Newcastle, who will be hopeful of retaining their Premier League status in 2020.

Steve Bruce's side earned a vital 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday to move up to 13th in the table, eight points clear of the drop.

They have nine games remaining in the 2019-20 season and may already have enough points to secure their top-flight future for another term.

But Bruce will be warning his side against complacency and looking towards Saturday's home fixture against in-form Sheffield United. 

Chelsea slipped to a surprise 1-0 Premier League loss on Saturday against Newcastle United at St James' Park.

The Blues dominated after half-time, with Newcastle closest to scoring in the first half, but neither side had a clinical edge in the final third of the pitch.

Newcastle stole the victory in the 94th minute of the game when Isaac Hayden headed home at the death.

BBC Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker shared Newcastle legend Alan Shearer's reaction as Hayden hit the back of the net:

The Magpies had lost Netherlands international Jetro Willems to injury after just 12 minutes when the defender challenged Callum Hudson-Odoi, leading to him being stretchered off.

Steve Bruce quickly reorganised, and it was the hosts who almost took the lead midway through the first half.

Joelinton's well-timed header from Emil Krafth's excellent cross smashed the crossbar after 33 minutes, and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga appeared beaten.

The Blues failed to find their groove before half-time, despite dominating possession. Tammy Abraham was isolated up the pitch as Chelsea's midfield lacked tempo.

An even first half concluded with an improvement from Frank Lampard's men, and Willian and N'Golo Kante spurned chances to take an advantage back into the dressing room.

Newcastle were immediately on the back foot in the second half. Chelsea began to turn the screw and showed better intent in dangerous areas.

Mason Mount's pass allowed Willian an excellent opportunity to score, but the Brazilian's effort was weak and rolled the wrong side of the post.

Alex Goldberg of The Byline podcast lamented the miss:

Newcastle's low block was intended to frustrate their opponents, but Chelsea grew in confidence as they chased an opener. The Magpies were clearly eyeing counter-attack chances and tried to burst out from deep with pace.

The home team had willing runners across the field. However, Chelsea's craft started to monopolise the game.

Lampard brought the returning Ross Barkley off the bench for Mount in the second half. It was the former Everton player's second Premier League appearance since suffering a foot injury against Newcastle last October.

Chelsea continued to increase the pressure when Abraham rounded the 'keeper, only to fire into the side netting, and the league's fourth-placed side could taste victory.

The Blues overloaded the box in the 90th minute, desperate to force the win, but a suckerpunch saw Newcastle grab a shocking victory.

Allan Saint-Maximin's last-ditch cross was met by the raiding Hayden deep into stoppage time, and the midfielder nodded past Kepa to send St James' Park into wild delirium.

What's Next

Both clubs are involved in midweek Premier League matches on Tuesday. The Magpies are on Merseyside to play Everton, and the Blues feature in a London derby against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.