---
title: "Leeds: Wilfried Gnonto takes knocks on international duty"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wilfried-gnonto-injury-news-italy/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-09-27T16:19:08Z"
modified: "2022-09-27T16:19:08Z"
---

# Leeds: Wilfried Gnonto takes knocks on international duty

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) striker Wilfried Gnonto ‘took a few whacks’ while playing for Italy on Monday night, according to [Joe Donnohue](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1574492487024099336) of The Yorkshire Evening Post.**

### The lowdown

The 18-year-old, who sealed a [£4.05m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wilfried-gnonto/profil/spieler/627626) move from FC Zurich to Elland Road on transfer deadline day, started for his country for [the third time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wilfried-gnonto/nationalmannschaft/spieler/627626) as they took on Hungary in their UEFA Nations League clash in Budapest.

He became the first Italian to reach that milestone before his 19th birthday [in the post-war era](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1574453337185030148) and completed 65 minutes before he was withdrawn by manager Roberto Mancini, with Italy already cruising at 2-0 up.

### The latest

Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1574492487024099336), Donnohue predicted that the change was only ‘precautionary’ but said that Gnonto had very much been in the firing line.

He wrote: “Gnonto subbed off on 65 minutes. Took a few whacks towards the end there, occupational hazard of putting himself about. Probably a precautionary change from Mancini with Italy already 2-0 up.”

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### The verdict

Gnonto had already provided Leeds with a glimpse of his capabilities, [chasing down and challenging](https://twitter.com/JoeDonnohue/status/1574478803711180801) the goalkeeper following an underhit Hungary backpass in the build-up to Italy’s opener.

Giacomo Raspadori subsequently latched onto it and had the simple task of finishing, with Peter Gulacsi already on the floor.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410182″\]

Leeds supporters will surely be excited to see a teenager they signed for just over £4m already starting multiple matches for the reigning European champions.

However, Jesse Marsch will now be hoping that the ‘[explosive](https://twitter.com/BTLvid/status/1572646334389452801)‘ striker, to quote sports journalist Jack Douglas, hasn’t sustained a knock after ‘putting himself about’. It will be intriguing to see what the Elland Road medics deduce once the teenager returns to Thorp Arch this week.