When a delegation from Newcastle United travelled to Milan to watch Sandro Tonali – nearing the end of a year-long pursuit of a midfielder who was, in the words of one insider, “always top of our lists, always No 1” – they were blown away.
The question posed in months of recruitment meetings was never should they sign Tonali. It was how they could possibly get a player who ticked every single box out of his boyhood club and into St James’ Park under the noses of some of the biggest clubs in the world.