Willy Gnonto opens up on Old Trafford 'silence', head coach hesitation and driving lessons - YEP 22/3/23
Leeds United forward Willy Gnonto has quickly established himself as a first-team player during his time at Elland Road
Joe Donnohue
The 19-year-old Italy international joins up with Roberto
Mancini’s Azzurri squad this week ahead of UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers versus
England and Malta. Gnonto is expected to feature prominently during this
month’s international break and is thought highly of by the former Manchester
City boss and Premier League-winning coach.
Mancini has previously questioned why no club in Italy chose
to move for the former FC Zurich attacker, allowing Leeds to swoop last summer,
securing his signature for £3.8 million.
Speaking to Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera
whilst at the Coverciano training base, Gnonto said: “I will always be grateful
to Inter [Milan], but I don't see it as a missed opportunity. I had to make a
choice, I went to Switzerland to play and I think I made the right one for me
and my family."
Gnonto left Internazionale’s revered academy setup at the
age of 16 to pursue senior football in Switzerland’s top flight and three years
on finds himself a Premier League regular and full international. However, the
teenager is still pinching himself at the chance to represent Leeds United,
where he has drawn praise for performances, and finishes such as his
scissor-kick opener against Cardiff City in the FA Cup.
"It seems like a dream to me: I come from Baveno and I
never expected one day to arrive in the Premier [League] or to receive
compliments from such players [Paolo Di Canio]. I live everything with great
pride and I always try to strive to improve.”
Despite his summer transfer, Gnonto’s place in Leeds’
starting XI was anything but guaranteed to begin with. Former head coach Jesse
Marsch described the youngster as ‘not Premier League-ready’ prior to his
arrival and initially fielded the youngster in the club’s Under-21 setup.
"The coach thought it was the best route for me, but I
was looking forward to playing with the first-team to make my contribution.
Let's just say it took a while,” Gnonto adds.
Since forcing his way into the first-team picture, Gnonto
has scored four times and picked up three assists, including in Leeds’ most
recent encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers where he set up Jack Harrison
for the game’s opening goal.
Another such contribution came at the home of arch-rivals
Manchester United last month, where Leeds took a surprising lead inside sixty
seconds, courtesy of Gnonto’s right-footed effort from the edge of the penalty
area.
"I was struck by the silence that fell [on Old
Trafford], also because the goal came unexpectedly, after one minute. A
beautiful moment,” the 19-year-old says, reflecting on one of the most memorable
moments of the season.
In addition, Gnonto reveals he is taking driving lessons in
the United Kingdom, after teammate Patrick Bamford explained earlier in the
season that the teenager’s father Boris drives him to training each day: “I'm
doing it, but in England. And it's a big mess,” Gnonto jokes.
