Italy is in a state of shock following the recent scandal involving two of its talents, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo. Both players were forced to leave the national team's concentration after being investigated by the Turin Prosecutor's Office in a case of illegal betting. The matter has escalated to include two of the great stars of the 'Azurra', threatening to become an even bigger scandal. While the Italian press closely follows the events, the protagonists, according to reports, acknowledge mistakes but deny having bet on football matches, an activity prohibited for athletes by local regulations.
The newspaper Corriere della Sera revealed that Sandro Tonali, the midfielder that Newcastle signed for 70 million euros this summer from Milan, would have admitted to his acquaintances that he had gambled and would have recognized a gambling problem.