Leeds United star dazzles in international outing with double career first and survives scare

Lee Sobot
By Lee Sobot
Published 25th Jun 2023, 19:01 BST
Updated 25th Jun 2023, 20:15 BST
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Leeds United star Willy Gnonto dazzled in Sunday evening’s international outing as the 19-year-old savoured a double career first.

Gnonto picked up his 11th cap for Italy’s senior side in last Sunday’s Nations League third place play-off against the Netherlands but the Whites ace was also named in Italy’s under-21s squad for this summer’s under-21s Euros.

Gnonto was named on the bench for Thursday night’s under-21s Euros opener against France but was brought on at half-time for an Italy under-21s debut despite his 11 caps for the senior side.

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Italy fell to a 2-1 defeat against France despite a positive impact from Gnonto who was then brought into the starting line up for Sunday evening’s clash against Switzerland for the career first of a full under-21s debut.

IMPACT: From Leeds United's Willy Gnonto, above, for Italy's under-21s. Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images.IMPACT: From Leeds United's Willy Gnonto, above, for Italy's under-21s. Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images.
IMPACT: From Leeds United's Willy Gnonto, above, for Italy's under-21s. Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images.

Under-21s boss Paolo Nicolato sees Gnonto as a striker as opposed to a winger and the Leeds attacker lined up as part of a front two, playing the left-sided striker role alongside Torino’s Pietro Pellegri.