Wilfried Gnonto was the shining light in Italy’s tough 1-1 draw with Germany yesterday and the 18-year-old’s decision to move abroad was key in helping him achieve the Azzurri call-up.
The Italian teenager was part of Inter’s youth system but in the summer of 2020 he decided not to renew his contract with the club, and instead he chose to join FC Zurich on a free transfer. Gnonto took a huge risk making the move abroad, but it immediately paid off, with the teenager earning 26 first team appearances in his first season.
Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb a month ago after winning the title with Zurich, Gnonto commented on his decision to leave Inter and make the move to Switzerland.
“Leaving Inter after eight years was definitely not easy, but here I was given the chance to be part of the first team right away, giving me time to grow and improve without rushing and away from pressure.”
The 18-year-old Italian forward was confident that he made the right decision to move abroad.
“It was the right thing to do, it was a radical change and I took my time to think. Once I made my decision I never had second thoughts.”
Finally, Gnonto gave his thoughts on the lack of trust placed in youngsters in Italy and how that affects the national team.
“I think it is very backward in this respect, abroad my 17-18 year old peers are given many more opportunities. I don’t think they are better than the Italians.
“When we play with the national team we don’t see that much of a difference in quality, more in terms of alertness and guile, which you only acquire by playing with the big boys.”
Gnonto è in Nazionale anche perché ha scelto di salutare l'Italia. Un mese fa lo disse chiaramente https://t.co/Top8EPZxaC
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) June 5, 2022
The future is bright.
Several key figures going forwards already European champions so have experience:
DONNARUMMA
SPINAZZOLA
VERRATTI
BARELLA
CHIESA
BASTONI
LOCATELLI
RASPADORI
Add to that ZANIOLO & PELLEGRINI both whom would have made that squad if they weren’t out.
Then all the youth ZANOLI UDOGIE SCALVINI TONALI FRATTESI SCAMACCA GRONTO SEBA ESPOSITO PELLEGRI KEAN
THEN CALABIA 25
WILDCARDS BALOTELLI BREMER/IBANEZ
THEN
OKOLI RICCI ROVELLA MIRETTI FAGOLI SALCEDO CANCELLIERI
It’s not a rebuild like Ventura it’s a tournament winning manager who knows the players, knows the harmony needed so we could be about to enter one of the best eras of Italian football which goes hand in hand with the ups and downs in international football and Italy historically. We’ve never been better equipped to regrow than we have now with the World Cup end of year we get a head start (just look at how old the German squad looked) plus the nations league allows competitive games.
Speak the truth, young man.
We have talent. Always have. But id you aren’t given the chance to play, you will stagnate.