Willy Gnonto sounds thankful to have left Leeds on loan in latest Italian interview
Wilfried Gnonto believes he "grew up" thanks to his time playing for Leeds United.
The winger signed for Leeds from Swiss outfit FC Zurich as a summer 2022 deadline day arrival.
He was just 18-years old at the time, and was a very highly-rated prospect who'd spent time with Inter Milan's fabled academy system.
Fast-forward to the present day, and the now-22-year-old is forging a new chapter back in Italian football with Fiorentina.
After making 147 appearances for the Whites, Gnonto joined the Serie A side on a season-long loan deal this summer for the 2026-27 campaign.
He's since been reflecting on his time at Elland Road, and why he's clearly very content with where he's at right now.
Where did Wilfried Gnonto "improve a lot" with Leeds?
Given how many years it's been since he joined Leeds and all the appearances he's made, it can be easy to forget how young Gnonto is.
Indeed, he could still qualify to play Under-23s football, despite winning 13 senior caps for Italy and playing volumes of Premier League and Championship football.
He's still got plenty of room for improvement, and should he reach his ceiling, staying at Elland Road may never have been his destiny anyway.
Speaking to Fiorentina's website and translated via Sportwitness, Gnonto has made his thanks to Leeds clear, as well as pledged big improvement at Fiorentina.
“Here I can improve in everything, in England I grew up as a man," he said.
“Italian and English football differ somewhat in terms of intensity. Training sessions are a bit shorter and involve less tactics.
"But they are more intense and focused on actual gameplay; I think I improved a lot in that regard while I was there.
“It’s important to strike a balance between the two. Having played for Italian national teams for a long time, I think I have a bit of an Italian mindset—regarding diet, food, and the focus placed on work.
"In England, things are much more laid-back; everyone is a bit more relaxed.
“Football is important, of course, but it isn’t everything—which is perhaps a good thing, as it allows me to stay relatively calm and enjoy my life."
So, what has Gnonto said about life with Fiorentina so far, and why does he foresee himself making significant strides in Serie A?
Why Fiorentina improvement is yet to arrive for Gnonto
So far this season, Gnonto has turned out four times in all competitions for Fiorentina, scoring once in the Coppa Italia.
He's provided zero goal contributions from his first three Serie A outings, but the Leeds loanee has only played 85 minutes of league action so far.
Gnonto is putting a lot of pressure on himself to enjoy an excellent season in Italy too, as he clearly appreciates the need for a big individual campaign.
“I’m certain I’ve improved physically, because we’re working really hard," he continued.
“Coach (Paolo) Vanoli has us doing a lot of running. I’m definitely improving physically; I feel better and think I’m in pretty good shape. I can improve in every aspect here.
“I work daily to refine both the things I’m already fairly good at and the areas where I struggle a bit, and I’m confident I can do that with the help of the coach and my teammates...
"Things are going well now. The guys are easy to get along with. I’m very happy, and I know things can only get better from here.”
Gnonto is contracted with Leeds until the summer of 2028, but it sounds as though he'd be more than happy to put permanent roots down in Italy.