Sandro Tonali was absent from Tottenham’s first day of pre-season training on July 10, with his work permit identified as the reason for his non-appearance at Hotspur Way.
Twenty-three Spurs players reported for duty as pre-season got underway, with the squad’s first friendly – against MK Dons on July 22 – now on the horizon. Tonali, who only completed his big-money move from Newcastle a few weeks ago, was the notable absentee.
What Alasdair Gold Said
According to Football London journalist Alasdair Gold, Tonali is understood to be awaiting his work permit before he can begin pre-season training. Gold added that the Italian is going through the process and that it is nothing to be concerned about.
The delay appears to be a straightforward administrative matter related to the timing of the transfer rather than any fitness or disciplinary issue.
Where Things Stand With the Wider Squad
Tonali was not the only new arrival missing from the session. Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson – both involved at the World Cup – were also absent, as was Marcos Senesi, who remains at the tournament. Their absences are expected and accounted for in Spurs’ planning.
Among those who did train were James Maddison, Conor Gallagher, Dominic Solanke, and Archie Gray, alongside returning loan players and long-term injury absentees Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. It is a reasonable headcount for a first session, even if the summer’s heavy investment means several key pieces are still falling into place.
Tonali’s delayed arrival does compress the time available for him to adapt to the demands of the system – the midfield he was specifically prioritised to anchor is already taking shape around him. Once his paperwork clears, expect the club to manage his minutes carefully regardless; a player returning from an extended absence from competitive football was never going to be thrown straight into the deep end.
Spurs have fixtures in New Zealand and Australia scheduled from July 26 onwards, beginning with Auckland FC.
