Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto can have perfect response to Italy snub
Wilfried Gnonto has been left out of Italy’s provisional squad for EURO 2024, but Wembley presents the Leeds United winger with a chance to show Luciano Spalletti what he’s missing.
The Azzurri confirmed their 30-player squad ahead of friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Riccardo Orsolini and Mattia Zaccagni selected ahead of the Whites winger.
Meanwhile, Leeds face Southampton in the Championship play-off final on 26 May, after Gnonto was one of several impressive performers in the Peacocks’ 4-0 thumping of Norwich City in their second semi-final.
Gnonto set up Joel Piroe’s header to make it 2-0 with a sensational cross from the right, and after being overlooked for two players with less than his 13 caps combined, the 20-year-old will be hoping he can prove to Spalletti that he is worthy of international recognition.
Gnonto can lead Leeds to Wembley glory v Southampton
Leeds United have produced goals by the bucket-load this season, with three players in double figures and several others doing likewise with assists taken into account.
Gnonto is one of the latter, Leeds’ joint fourth-highest scorer in the Championship alongside Patrick Bamford, and after a troubled start to the season has come into his own since the calendar ticked over into 2024.
Seven of his eight goals have come in this period, while also laying on three assists, but that form hasn’t been enough to earn a recall to the senior Italian set-up since September 2023; around the time he unsuccessfully pushed for a transfer away from Elland Road.
He’s still very much a player waiting in the wings, but a strong performance off the right wing against Southampton on 26 May – and firing Leeds back to the Premier League in the process – may leave Spalletti ruing a missed opportunity to call on the dynamic wideman this summer.
In other Leeds news, Phil Hay shared details of the bizarre agreement that saw one of the club’s starlets choose Elland Road over joining Manchester City.
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