Italian media outlet Tutto Mercato Web handed Willy Gnonto a rating of 4.5/10 for his performance in Italy U21’s 1-0 loss to Norway – which sees the Leeds United winger and Italy knocked out of the U21 European Championships.
Gnonto, 19, came into the game having scored for Italy’s U21 side last time out in a 3-2 win over Switzerland. It was a much-needed win after losing the first group game to Illan Meslier’s France. They needed to win against Norway.
A side that included Kris Klaesson and Leo Hjelde. But it was Norway that ran out victorious, claiming a surprise 1-0 win as Italy really struggled – despite the presence of Gnonto, Sandro Tonali, Nicola Rovella and Gianluca Scavini.
It was Erik Botheim’s goal in the 65th minute that condemned Italy, and sees them exit the competition surprisingly early. England, meanwhile, have cruised into the quarter-finals and will face Portugal on Sunday evening in Georgia.
TMW were very critical of Italy’s side, but none more so than Gnonto. Considered one of the senior men in the U21 team given his 11 caps, Gnonto failed to produce. In the title, TMW said he “wastes everything” before continuing.
“He wastes everything there is to waste. If in the aerial game he has the alibi of not being a giant, the mistakes made when he is thrown deep are hardly forgivable. He always loses that second too many,” TMW said, rating him a 4.5.
Italian media hand Leeds winger Willy Gnonto a rating of 4.5/10
If anything, this helps our chances of keeping Gnonto. Scouts are aplenty at tournaments such as an Under-21 competition – and Gnonto had the chance to lead Italy to glory. But instead, he has flopped, and Italy are out.
If a club needed convincing about Gnonto during the U21 European Championships, then surely they will have been put off by his outing in the loss to Norway. Simply not good enough. But it is more than likely Gnonto leaves Leeds.
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