Prodigy Gnonto (19) may rid Italy of its age-old stigma

After two missed World Cups in a row, Italian soccer could use some fresh impetus. Although two years ago they still captured the European title, national coach Roberto Mancini hopes to give his team a new look.

Teenage sensation Wilfried Gnonto (19) is one of the players to keep an eye on during Italy’s upcoming Nations League matches.

Gnonto became the youngest ever goal scorer in the national team, on his debut a year ago against Germany. “In doing so, he sent a strong signal, both to me and to other youngsters. We hope many others will follow,” Mancini said of this.

Mancini and Gnonto have known each other for a long time. When Mancini was trainer of Internazionale, Gnonto played there in youth.

“Mancini is a legend and I don’t have to tell you what he has done for soccer,” Gnonto said. “He gives me a lot of advice. I try to learn as much as I can, to follow every advice he gives me and I hope I become a better player because of that.”

Gnonto was born in Verbania, on the western side of Lake Maggiore. The child of Ivorian parents ended up in Inter’s youth academy, but after a few successful seasons chose to turn down a professional contract at the top club.

“I never talked to him about it. But Mancini’s position that young players should play at a high level inspired my decision,” Gnonto told me.

“The sporting aspect always weighs most heavily in my choices. I don’t believe in players having to go abroad at a young age. But they should be able to get the chance to play every week.”

Gnonto is an almost un-Italian dribbler. Whereas the basis of Italy’s latest successes was built primarily on the routine of defenders such as Fabio Cannavaro (2006 world champion), Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini (2021 European champion), with Gnonto the country chooses the attack.

And it’s all going a little harder than expected with the young striker. With FC Zurich, he had a big part in the surprising national championship in Switzerland, forcing a transfer to Leeds United in the Premier League.

Feyenoord and PSV were also angling for Gnonto’s services at the time, which certainly represented good alternatives to the big money in England from a sporting point of view.

“And playing for Italy was always my big dream,” said Gnonto, who in his youth years was inspired by Mario Balotelli. Like him, that was a rare dark player in the Italian team.

From that standpoint, too, Gnonto’s good play could make a valuable contribution to the sport’s image. Still matches in Serie A are marred by incidents of racism.

Arrigo Sacchi, a figurehead of Italian soccer as coach of the great AC Milan, expressed concern a few years ago about the many dark-skinned players in youth academies. “Italy has lost its pride and dignity,” he said.

If it were up to Mancini, however, Gnonto would become the face of a new generation. With Alessandro Bastoni (Internazionale) and Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), two other youngsters have already found their place in the national team in recent times, following previously Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), and Nicolò Zaniolo (Galatasaray).

“Spain has a lot of good, young players. For example, I like Gavi and Pedri very much. What they do at their age is incredible,” Gnonto looked ahead to the Nations League semifinal. “They have a young team, but so do we. So I think we can handle them.”

Gnonto will look back on last season with mixed feelings. Although he played his way into the base sooner than expected, he failed to keep Leeds United in the Premier League. For both Leeds and the player, a big transfer seems best.

The top clubs are also watching with interest this week. Starting tonight in Enschede against Spain.