Wilfried Gnonto’s fine displays for Leeds United in this calendar year have helped him secure his position in the Italy squad for the ongoing international break.
The forward is currently with the national team and has given an interview to Corriere della Sera.
Leeds took the 19-year-old from FC Zürich on deadline day of the summer 2022 window and initially included him in their U21 squad.
On his move to Elland Road, he said: “I didn’t even hope so much anymore, it all happened very quickly and I didn’t have time to realise. But it was a beautiful emotion. The impact was good on a personal level, the team is experiencing some ups and downs.”
Jesse Marsch was then in charge of the club and Gnonto had to wait until the end of October to make his Premier League debut for Leeds.
“The coach thought it was the best path for me, but I couldn’t wait to play with the first team to give my contribution: let’s say it took a while,” Gnonto explained.
The Italian came up through the ranks of Inter Milan’s youth system and then made a switch to Switzerland in 2020. Italy manager Roberto Mancini was surprised that Serie A sides didn’t approach him before Leeds completed his signing in 2022.
Corriere della Sera asked the player whether staying at Inter or going elsewhere in Italy was a missed opportunity. He said, “I will always be grateful to Inter, 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.”
The Leeds player is currently enjoying his time in the Premier League even though the Whites have enjoyed a difficult season so far.
“It seems like a dream to me: I come from Baveno and I never expected one day to get to the Premier League or to receive compliments from such players [Paolo Di Canio]. I live everything with great pride and I always try to commit myself to improve,” he stressed.
What’s not to love about Willy Gnonto?
