“He is guided by his agent, I think his agent told him to do that, it could ruin his career”- Sam Allardyce says Willy Gnonto’s behaviour could ruin his career as he blames player’s agent for current situation at Leeds
Sam Allardyce has warned that Willy Gnonto is almost in danger of ruining his career by refusing to play for Leeds United amid speculation over his Elland Road future.
Allardyce was speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast after Leeds confirmed last week that the Italy international had asked to not in the side’s last two games.
It is fair to say that Willy Gnonto damaged his relationship with Leeds supporters beyond repair in the last few days. He has largely been a fan favourite throughout his time in Yorkshire. He was one of the only bright points about a miserable campaign last season.
And he looked focused during the opening day with Cardiff City. On a couple of occasions, he came incredibly close to finding the back of the net brilliantly. He also shared the fans’ jubilation when Crysencio Summerville equalised in stoppage-time.
Unfortunately, it appears that that draw could well prove to be his last game for Leeds. Gnonto missed the Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury.
And ahead of the trip to Birmingham, Leeds put out a statement saying that Gnonto had decided to not travel after being informed that he is not being sold this summer.
Allardyce obviously knows Gnonto better than many. So after hearing the news, he suggested that he must be being advised to take his current stance.
And he added that his agent must feel that a move away is close.
“I think that’s guided by his agent. I think his agent’s told him to do that,” he told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. “I can’t see it within him in the short period of time I had with him that he would say, ‘right, I’m not going to play’. I think his agent has said, ‘look, the best way you’ve got of getting away is that you just go and say I’m not turning up’.
“And I think that that agent has to be absolutely certain, one hundred percent that he’s got a club for him to go to. Because if he’s taking the chance on doing that without a club to go to, it could ruin his career; not totally, but it could set him back so far. It’s going to be very difficult.”
Right now, it is very hard to see a way back for Gnonto at Leeds. But the board have made their stance clear. Their statement would suggest that they fully expect the 19-year-old to still be at Leeds beyond the transfer deadline.
But if that is going to happen, Gnonto is going to need to make a massive effort to make amends.
As it stands, it is hard to see how he does that.
