Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini is a big fan of Leeds United new boy Wilfried Gnonto. The former Manchester City boss rates the 18-year-old highly, handing him four Italy caps despite his young age.
Mancini has given debuts to plenty of young players since Italy won the European Championship last summer, and Gnonto is one of those players who Mancini believes could bring success to Italy.
“He is a boy, he is 18-years-old and he should not be put under too much pressure. He has to grow quietly," Mancini said of Gnonto. "For his age, he knows how to play football like few other players and is very fast.
READ MORE: Jansson's gesture to Leeds United insult, Marsch's home support flashpoint and moments missed
“If he grows calmly, without too much pressure on him, he can show his important qualities and he is an intelligent boy, he can grow. His best role is second striker, but he can also play on the wing.”
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch is looking forward to integrating the forward into his squad. Speaking after the 5-2 defeat at Brenford, he said: "We had been following Willy Gnonto’s progress for some time and we were thinking that we leave them in Zurich with the idea that maybe we bring them in a transfer window or maybe two just give them time to continue to develop where he was at. But then we felt we needed to accelerate that decision based on what the window was panning out to be."
READ NEXT
Every word Jesse Marsch said on Leeds United's defeat, red card, Llorente and deadline day
Ivan Toney trolls Fantasy Football fans after Leeds United hat-trick
BT Sport pundits and Peter Walton disagree on Leeds United penalty decision
Jesse Marsch sets Leeds United record straight on 'tough' James exit and calamitous defending
Leeds United winners and losers as Jesse Marsch sent off in heavy Brentford defeat
