Leeds United are preparing for the Championship play-off final against Southampton at Wembley but Willy Gnonto has just picked up a bit of bad news ahead of the game.
Gnonto, 20, has come into the side after watching on from the sidelines for much of the first half of the season and starred for Leeds in recent weeks. He scored seven goals in the last 15 Championship games.
The Italy star is expected to start on Sunday as he looks to get his career back on track, after refusing to play for Leeds back in August. Part of that includes his involvement with Italy’s senior side right now.
Following his inability to get into the Leeds starting line-up and the club’s drop into the second tier, Gnonto lost his place in Italy’s side. Roberto Mancini has since left, with Luciano Spalletti now manager.
But Gnonto, just a few days ahead of Sunday’s play-off final for a place in the Premier League, has picked up a spot of bad news. Italy have confirmed their squad for Euro 2024, as Spalletti fights for the trophy.
Gnonto suffers bad news ahead of Leeds clash in play-off final
The winger last won the last of his 13 caps for Italy last September and it was always unlikely that he might get a surprise, late inclusion into the Italy squad but those fears have now been confirmed.
Italy face Turkey and Bosnia at the start of June before group games against Croatia, Albania and Spain. Spalletti confirmed his provisional squad on Italy’s X account on Thursday, with no sign of Gnonto’s name.
The caption reads: “Luciano Spalletti’s provisional 30-player Azzurri squad ahead of EURO2024.”
Focus is key for the Leeds winger now as play-off final closes in
After the March international break, Leeds dropped off and while many point towards tiredness and perhaps the pressure weighing Leeds down, the club’s Welsh stars will have suffered for a few weeks.
Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu could not hold on to their brilliant defensive record after the break while Dan James has been on the sidelines. Gnonto must learn from that, put it behind him, and focus.
Given he has not played for Italy’s senior side since September, the chances of getting into Italy’s Euro 2024 squad was always unlikely. He has the quality to produce the magic required to shine on Sunday.