The Italy and Newcastle United midfielder said the same thing on Sunday to Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sporting prosecutors, the sources said.
Tonali has been named in a criminal probe into the use of illegal betting channels along with Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli and Aston Villa attacking midfielder Niccolò Zaniolo.
Sporting prosecutors are also looking into the case as professional footballers are not allowed to bet on football games due to the risk of match-fixing.
They face long bans for failing to respect this ban.
Tonali and Zaniolo were last week sent home from Italy’s training camp for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England after news of the case broke.
Fagiolo was banned from football for seven months on Tuesday after admitting to betting on football matches following a plea bargain.
Tonali’s lawyers Maurizio M. Scaccabarozzi and Marco Feno said Wednesday that the 23-year-old had “exhaustively clarified his position” during the questioning and provided “full cooperation to the investigating authorities”.
Newcastle confirmed that the player was being investigated by sporting and criminal prosecutors and said that “he and his family will continue to receive the club’s full support”.
ANSA
