Ex-Leeds United coach shares what he knows about Willy Gnonto amid Elland Road controversy
Willy Gnonto must play for Leeds United despite wanting a move as otherwise he lets his teammates and fans down, according to Karl Robinson.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast (17 August), the recent Leeds assistant manager claimed that he would make Gnonto play for the club and ignore his refusals.
Gnonto has been eyeing a move back to the Premier League with Everton, with Corriere dello Sport claiming (17 August, pg 19) that Everton will have to increase their £25million bid to secure the Italian.
On the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Robinson said: “You are signed to play for Leeds United and you have to play. Now, if you want to go on that football pitch and let your fans down, and let your teammates down, that says a lot about you as a human being.
“So even though he refuses to play, I would just still play him. Then it’s down to him to perform how he needs to perform and we lose because of his lack of effort. That responsibility falls on him.
“I’ve known Willy for a short time, he’s not a bad person. He never came across like a bad person.”
Make him play
While it could be difficult to force a player to get on the pitch, Robinson’s view here has some merit. It benefits no one for Gnonto to sit on the sidelines, even Gnonto himself.
While he has proved himself a valuable and quality player in his short career already, keeping up with competitive match fitness and trying to have an influence on the side would not harm his value and could serve to boost it.
The former Oxford United boss also questioned the Italian’s values “as a human being”. While seemingly harsh, Gnonto’s actions clearly reflect his desire to play at a higher level. Despite being understandable for a player of his skill and potential, it does not send a good message to his current club or other potential clubs.
His attitude and sportsmanship leave a lot to be desired but Robinson, who coached Gnonto during his short spell as assistant coach last season under Sam Allardyce, claims he “never came across like a bad person”.
The true motivations and causes of the fallout between the 19-year-old and Leeds United remain unclear, but it may be in everyone’s best interest that Gnonto laces up his boots for Leeds in the meantime.
In other Leeds United news, a BBC pundit has tipped the Whites to win the race for a sought-after Millwall defender.