Former Leeds United and current Brescia owner Massimo Cellino has launched a staunch defence of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali in the midst of the Italian betting scandal.
The Toon summer signing came through the youth set-up at Brescia before moving on to AC Milan in 2020.
The Magpies midfielder faces a potential ban from football and has been in Turin this week, meeting with the Public Prosecutor's Office to offer his full cooperation with the investigation.
The 23-year-old and Aston Villa midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo are alleged to have placed bets using an illegal platform.
More serious allegations from Corriere dello Sport claim Tonali and Zaniolo placed bets on football while competing in Serie A.
These claims came just days after news broke about Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli being placed under investigation for alleged illegal gambling.
The Juventus man has now been given a seven-month ban, which was reduced from 12 months on the condition he seeks help for his gambling addiction.
Fagioli has been cooperating with authorities in order to get his suspension reduced.
"I can bet my soul he is a clean guy with principles," Cellino told the Daily Telegraph.
"All my players in Brescia love him.
The first time he had money he bought a car for his father, a carpenter.
"His mum was a nurse and he bought her a house.
Dishonest? Come on.
They don't realise what they are doing to this boy.
If Tonali does that, how many others? I don't want to know.
"He is a top player, a clean player who wanted to become a football player, the first thing was about playing football but Milan is a city that can become very open to bad company.
"Cellino says he has stayed close to Tonali ever since his move from AC Milan and given a glowing character reference despite the allegations against him.
"I have always been close to him," he said.
"When I asked him to do something for me, he did it in the best way.
We were relegated and I let him go on the loan with an option to Milan because I believed in him very much," he said.
"He was lonely.
He was coming back to Brescia to see his friends every week and he didn't have his driving license so I told him give me a present and take some lessons.
"When he passed he sent me a picture.
We are talking about 2020 and still he is only 23.
What can I say? He is different? No, he is the same young boy.
"If he is involved in a stupid thing, it is with friends who don't give a s--t and take advantage.
I would trust him 100 per cent because that is not Sandro Tonali.
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