Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Sandro Tonali is just joining Tottenham ‘for the big bucks’.
Spurs smashed their transfer record to seal a £100million deal to sign the Italy midfielder from Newcastle on Monday.
‘Do me a favour!’
But talkSPORT’s Agbonlahor has expressed doubt about Tonali’s ‘real reason’ for making the switch to North London.
Tonali expressed his excitement to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first interview as a Spurs player, to which host Jeff Stelling quipped: “He could have done that as a Newcastle player.”
Tonali said: “I can’t wait to play in this stadium. Because I played against with AC Milan in the Champions League [and] Newcastle. I found the atmosphere great; I found every time the full stadium.”
But former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor wasn’t having any of it. “Atmosphere? Do me a favour!” he reacted. “Don’t make me laugh.
“I went to the game last season, Spurs against Aston Villa. The quietest stadium I’ve probably ever been to. Zero atmosphere.
“You’ve [Tonali] gone for the big bucks; you’ve gone for the money that Newcastle probably wouldn’t give you.
“To leave Newcastle to go to Spurs is a crazy decision. Let’s just call it as it is.”
Tonali wasn’t the only one in the crosshairs, with Agbonlahor also hammering fellow summer arrivals Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, who have joined as free agents after leaving Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively.
“Senesi, same,” he continued. “You’ve gone there on a free transfer for the money. Andy Robertson, you’ve gone there for the money. So has Tonali for the money. Do me a favour. The stadium…”
Disagreeing with Stelling that Tonali had been swayed by ‘an aggressive, forward-thinking manager’ in Roberto De Zerbi, Agbonlahor added: “One thing I will say: Italian manager in De Zerbi, I’ll give him that.
Players joining Spurs ‘for the money’
“But really, Jeff, he’s gone for the big, big bucks. Spurs have got money to spend…as a Spurs fan, would I want players coming for the money? That seems to be happening.”
Having avoided relegation on the final day of last season, Spurs have already made six new signings as they strive to avoid a repeat in 2026/27.
In addition to Tonali, Senesi and Robertson, they’ve spent a combined £137m to secure the services of Jan Paul van Hecke and Mateus Fernandes from Brighton and West Ham respectively.
Tonali’s ex-Newcastle teammate Martin Dubravka has also come in on a free transfer.
And Spurs’ endeavours in the transfer market look set to continue, with talkSPORT understanding they are ready to splash further cash to lure Eli Junior Kroupi from Bournemouth.
De Zerbi’s Spurs begin the new campaign away to Brentford on Saturday, August 29.
And Tonali will soon have a reunion: Spurs’ first home fixture of the season sees them entertain Newcastle a week later.