weasel wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 12:35 am
THanks for the great info ZW. Everything sounds promising about him - albeit the attittude problem is a little concerning but equally can be a positive in that he sounds like he wants to prove himself so would likely give his all even if he sees us as a stepping stone. I think sometimes though we forget how childish we could be at the same age he is now. When I saw Haaland interviewed (after the West Ham game) he seemed just like a big kid and he's 22.
You're welcome, weasel.
He came to Zurich from the Academy at Inter in the Autumn of 2020, and on his arrival here nobody could believe it.
Zurich had just got Italy's Under 19 Captain for free, from Inter Milan!
Of course it was full in COVID times, and the World was going mental, but it was still an amazing coup.
On his debut, as a sub, the first thing he did was to give away a free-kick, which led to Zurich conceding a goal, but 10 minutes later he'd got his first goal, from a long shot ( which sadly was taken away from him, as it touched another Zurich striker on the way in ).
but you could see this guy had it all.
Our Mini-Balotelli had arrived.
He was very emotional at the start here, and in one of the following games Zurich were playing Servette, and Gnonto almost scored the winner, hitting the post with a few minutes to go, and then Servette countered and got the winner. Gnonto left the pitch very emotional, there were tears, etc., but luckily Zurich's Captain, Blerim Dzemaili, a full International with years of experience in Italy, was looking after him.
Dzemaili took him under his wing, and they shared a car to the away games when, due to COVID, the players couldn't travel by bus.
This helped him settle, and his career last season took off.
Zurich had been awful for the last 3 years, with low finishes in the League, but last season Zurich, with their new manager, Andre Breitenreiter, walked through the League, winning the Championship with games to spare, and Willy was the super-sub par excellence.
It was clear that he would be off this Summer, and us fans just wanted to enjoy Willy before the inevitable transfer abroad.
This Summer we was chosen to play for Italy, by Mancini, and scored goals and was immediately praised by the Italian Media as their new Saviour.
Italy had failed to qualify for the World Cup, and so the whole Nation needed a 'new Hero', and up steps Willy.
The perfect new player to believe in.
Always smiling, full of self-confidence, a perfect mascot for the team.
So, the 4th June, 2022, Italy v Germany.
Willy on the bench.
The whole of Zurich watching the game, hoping that he comes on.
Italy got taken apart by Germany, then, suddenly, there he was warming up on the side-lines.
Then he came on. Nr. 11, Willy Gnonto, playing on the right wing.
15 minutes later and the dream debut was reality!
Gnonto set up a goal for Italy, and he'd arrived, and we knew he'd gone.
https://twitter.com/FootballReprt/statu ... 2901964800
10 days later he scored his 1st goal for the Azzuri, again versus Germany, albeit in a 5-2 humbling, but the whole World was now sitting up and taking notice.
After his performances for the Italian National team there followed the Under 19 Championships, in the middle of June, and the FCZ President refused to allow Gnonto to play, as he'd already been away with the full National side, and this was the beginning of the end of his 'happy time' here.
His father ( and agent ) went to the press, angry that Willy had been denied the chance to participate there...
https://twitter.com/IFTVofficial/status ... 65349.html
On to this Season, and Zurich, after winning the League with ease last season, have had a 'mare.
Lost their trainer, Breitenreiter, to Hoffenheim, got a new one in, Franco Foda, ex-Austrian Coach, and the whole art of playing, formations, etc., have been changed.
An absolute clusterfuck of a start for the whole team.
Just one goal in the last 5 league games, and that a very lucky equaliser against Winterthur, the promoted team, and Gnonto is quite clearly frustrated with the situation at the moment.
Zurich got knocked out by Qarabag in the CL qualifiers, then beat Linfield in the Euro League qualis, and now have a game on Thursday against Hearts, to get into the Europa League group.
Zurich are bottom of the League, and are in free-fall, and Willy's value is sinking with every game.
Our President was talking about 'at least 10 million Euros' a few weeks ago, and now it looks like 4 million will seal the deal.
Great business for Leeds it this can be realised.
Would make me very happy as well to see Willy at Leeds.
Just a word of caution...
My brother supports West Ham as his English team, and they are now very interested in Gnonto.
This scenario, with Willy going to the cocky, cheerful, cockney c*&"s would be my Worst-Case-Scenario.
Make it happen, Leeds.
Sign him up.
