Wilfried Gnonto is probably the most sought-after Italy starlet at the moment and the story of how Inter let him leave two years ago has now emerged.
The 18-year-old is currently under contract with Zurich and made his senior Azzurri debut against Germany on Saturday, delivering an assist for Lorenzo Pellegrini minutes after being subbed on in the second half.
Gnonto is a product of Inter academy, but he left the Nerazzurri in 2020, joining the Swiss club where he is under contract until June 2023. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the versatile striker rejected the Nerazzurri’s contract offer in 2019. It would have been the first professional contract in his career.
Inter had offered him a three-year deal, a proposal which the club thought to be suitable for the player’s development. Gnonto had been training with the first team under Antonio Conte, but the coach and the club promoted another youngster, Sebastiano Esposito, as a permanent member of the senior team.
According to the report, Gnonto expected a different treatment from the club, especially after scoring three goals during the U17 World Cup in October. However, the Nerazzurri didn’t raise their offer, so the striker decided to leave the following year.
Federal rules are also to be blamed for Gnonto’s move to Zurich. The current regulations do not allow Serie A clubs to offer ‘preformation contracts’ at the age of 15 to avoid seeing youngsters move abroad, as it already happened with Gianluca Scamacca, who joined PSV from Roma in 2016, or Federico Macheda, who swapped Lazio with Man United in 2007.
Gnonto, tutti i retroscena della fuga dall'#Inter https://t.co/sYoxClBVMW
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) June 5, 2022
INTER AND CONTE LET GNONTO LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE RACISTS!
He would have been a wonderful addition for PhD Simone and the back, back, down, down approach to European/Chinese football. What a shame!
@SABA I am not Inter‘s biggest fan, but don’t talk daft! Got any evidence to back that up?
The kid played well when he came on, but from what I recall he took on the fullback once and got some joy, let’s not overhype him. I just hope he has room to grow into his potential
Yeah, so racists that Conte fought against Inter management to buy Lukaku lol
How long before football-italia links him to their absolute favorite club, Tottenham Hotspur? I’m guessing by later today.
Amazing how in today’s football an 18 year old can play 10 minutes of good football and shoot to fame just like that.
He will rejoin Inter for free next summer
Saba shut up you idiot!
@SABA
I think you’re a homophobe nazi shame on you.
There is some obvious talent here, top flight teams are not afraid to back these youngsters into a corner if they refuse to sign these skimpy contracts as a player can be shunned from ever playing for the Italian national team, if he leaves the country to play, understanding the coach he had he opted to do the smartest thing he could of done and left for playing time to develop as playing in Italy he would have seldom be given enough time to play, This behaviour towards young players has caught up to italian football talent
He made one good run on the wing and he’s Messi now…