Italy manager Roberto Mancini is pleased to see Wilfried Gnonto play regular first-team football at Leeds United but cannot understand why Serie A clubs did not take a punt on the youngster, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
In what was arguably Leeds’ most impressive display since August’s 3-0 thumping of Chelsea, it’s fitting that Gnonto – their teen sensation – set the tone during Saturday’s 4-2 triumph over relegation rivals Wolves at Molineux.
Nelson Semendo had been one of Wolves’ most improved players in the Julen Lopetegui. But the former Barcelona right-back may have been relieved to see his number called during the second half this weekend; Semedo given the runaround by Gnonto almost from minute one.
Gnonto left Semedo in his wake as he set up Jack Harrison’s early opener. If you were to rank this season’s best pound-for-pound signings, the £4 million deal Leeds struck to bring Gnonto to West Yorkshire from FC Sion would rank somewhere near the very top.
Wilfried Gnonto shining at Leeds United
Gnonto forced his way into Mancini’s Italy squad last year after impressing across the Alps in Switzerland. And the Azzurri boss is wondering why no one in Serie A was willing to take a risk on a player who became Italy’s youngest ever goalscorer in a UEFA Nations League clash against Germany.
“Why hasn’t anyone signed Gnonto in Italy?” Mancini asks.
“He could play for Sampdoria or Fiorentina. Nobody took him, but he plays as a regular in the Premier League.”
Gnonto now has four goals and two assists in Leeds colours. Numbers which do not really do his impact justice. Hypothetically speaking, if Leeds were to cash in this summer, you could probably add a zero onto Gnonto’s £4 million price-tag without raising too many eyebrows.
“I love him,” Leeds’ Milan-born chairman Andrea Radrizzani tells Tuttomercatoweb of Gnonto, who represents the country of his birth despite his Ivorian heritage.
“(Gnonto is) Italian and he is an exceptional boy. It’s difficult to find a 19-year-old Italian who speaks four languages very well and has such an open mind.”
Gnonto spent eight years at Inter Milan between 2012 and 2020. And the winger is refusing to rule out a second spell at the Nerazzuri somewhere down the line.
“I owe a lot to Inter,” Gnonto explains. “Eight fundamental years for my growth that led me to be the footballer and man I am now. Playing for or against Inter would always be a great honour.”
Gnonto is currently under contract until the summer of 2027.
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