“He wanted to reassure Leeds” – Player contacts Whites over fitness scare on international break

On Friday we covered a fuss growing in Italy regarding Wilfried Gnonto and him using his phone whilst sitting on the bench for Italy’s U21 side.

The team were thrashing San Marino and Gnonto had been taken off the pitch after a series of heavy tackles on the Leeds United player. Him being on the phone wasn’t exactly slammed, given the player is well liked, but it was seen as something of a wrong step.

At the time, giving the benefit of the doubt, we suggested Gnonto may have actually been contacting Leeds United regarding his fitness, especially after the heavy tackles on him.

Well, it would appear that was exactly the case, at least according to Maurizio Viscidi, who Gazzetta dello Sport describe as the ‘coordinator’ for Italy’s age restricted teams.

The Italian newspaper quote him as saying: “He immediately wanted to reassure Leeds about his substitution that only happened because he was on a yellow card. Maybe he got the timing wrong but he showed respect for the club.”

Now the view of the situation has obviously changed for most, and Leeds United will be relieved those heavy tackles resulted in nothing other than a phone controversy.