Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali volunteered to take a pay cut after receiving a ten-month suspension from soccer for betting offenses. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Newcastle United did not envision getting just a dozen appearances out of Sandro Tonali after signing him in July for £52m ($65m). The Italian midfielder received a ten-month ban in October as a result of betting offenses in Italy, which included wagering on his own team. The 23-year-old also has a two-month suspended sentence from the English Football Association for placing 50 soccer bets after signing with his new club.

too guilty to accept his full salary following the suspension

Newcastle United Manager Eddie Howe has revealed that Tonali was too guilty to accept his full salary following the suspension. He volunteered to take a cut on his £120,000 ($150,831) per week wage packet as a way of apologizing for his transgressions.

Howe believes that Tonali has a big future with the club and wants to repay the club for sticking by him. While he cannot pull on a shirt in a competitive fixture until August, Tonali is still allowed to train with the team and has worked on developing his game to suit the Premier League style. Howe believes that this could put him in good stead, which would mean something positive came from the situation.