Italian media react to Leeds United star Willy Gnonto in UEFA Nations League win v Holland
European Champions Italy beat Holland 3-2 in an enthralling UEFA Nations League 3rd place playoff tie on Sunday, but it was a rather quiet day for Leeds United wonderkid Willy Gnonto.
The 19-year-old sensation swiftly rose to prominence since his summer move from FC Zurich, registering two goals and four assists from 23 Premier League games, earning him international attention from Italy boss Roberto Mancini as a result.
However, in what was his 11th cap for the Italians against the Netherlands on Sunday [18 June], Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport newspaper [19 June, page 10] wasn’t so forgiving in their assessment of his 64 minutes on the pitch.
In their ratings of the Italian players, the 19-year-old Elland Road favourite was given a torrid score of 5.5 and was criticised for his disappearance from the action as the game wore on.
The Italian outlet said: “the start is encouraging, puts his foot in the actions of the first two goals, then disappears from the scene”
Needs time
Gnonto can be forgiven for his lack of invention and involvement for Italy on Sunday, simply because his start under Mancini was rather unexpected, with the former Manchester City coach making wholesale changes and Gnoto was shunted out to the right wing where he hasn’t done much of his best work throughout his relatively short career so far.
When the Leeds United wizard has looked dangerous for club and country, he’s performed on the left wing and it’s from that position where he’s become one of the Premier League’s most fearsome attacking teenagers.
The Holland encounter was a difficult test for him, given the magnitude of the game and his unfamiliar positioning and will still need a lot of time, development and tactical learning from Mancini if he is to become a sustainable success in an Italy shirt.
Also, for much of the game, the Azzurri were on the defence which stunted the influence of a couple of his attacking teammates, not just Gnonto himself.
With the 19-year-old’s future at Leeds United unclear, after their disappointing relegation, the Whites must ensure they use his international acclaim and potential to demand a healthy price in order to fund their own ambitions of an immediate English top-flight return.
In other Leeds United news, with the new boss now key one man is emerging as a “serious contender” for the job.