Leeds United ace Willy Gnonto slammed after Italy v Netherlands U-21 game
Leeds United attacker Willy Gnonto was in action for the Italy Under-21s side as they lost 2-1 to the Netherlands on Friday.
The 21-year-old played just 45 minutes before he had to be withdrawn due to an injury.
The game was 1-1 until the dying stages of the game before Max Bruns scored in the 94th minute to win the contest on Friday, 21 March.
Willy Gnonto slammed for “disappointing” performance for the Italy youngsters
Gnonto played one half for Italy and it was far from an impressive display by the Leeds youngster.
He did make a few errors that certainly will have annoyed Carmine Nunziata, the head coach of the Under-21s side.
Italian media outlet Sportface, via their X handle, called Gnonto “disappointing” in their post.
In an article on their website, the 21-year-old was given a rating of 5/10 – the lowest among any of his teammates.
The article read: “Wastes two chances. Without Pio Esposito, Italy fails to pass the test of concreteness in front of goal. He leaves the pitch at the end of the first half due to injury.”
Daniel Farke will be unhappy as Leeds United star Willy Gnonto gets injured
Before the game, he was not carrying any fitness issues so this undoubtedly will be something Daniel Farke would not be too happy about.
Following Gnonto’s injury during international duty with Italy, Leeds will likely take swift and strategic steps to assess and manage the situation, given his importance as a key winger in their promotion push in the EFL Championship.
The club will likely immediately engage in discussions with the Italian Football Federation to gather detailed medical reports and understand the extent of the injury.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Brenden Aaronson | 38 | 8 | 2 |
| Willy Gnonto | 35 | 5 | 5 |
If it is serious, Gnonto is expected to return to Yorkshire promptly for closer monitoring by Leeds’ medical staff, ensuring alignment with the club’s injury protocols.
Farke and the physios will need to evaluate Gnonto’s recovery timeline, possibly adjusting training and match plans to protect his long-term fitness and also see if his minutes may need to be monitored in the coming weeks.
Leeds may also explore contingency plans, relying on squad depth, as it’s important that they have a competitive side for the remaining games to come this term.