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Leeds star desperate to make amends at Wembley after pleading for transfer exit

Leeds star Wilfried Gnonto is eager to secure the club’s promotion to the Premier League as a gesture of gratitude towards the supporters after demanding to leave last summer.

Gnonto has openly acknowledged his error in submitting a transfer request in August, in a bid to engineer a move to Everton, admitting he was reluctant to play in the Championship. Manager Daniel Farke responded by sidelining the forward until the Italian recanted and committed his future to Leeds.

The striker made amends by scoring in his comeback game against Ipswich at the end of August, and he reflects on the experience as a learning curve. “Yes, I can say so,” he admitted to The Mirror. “This was the first time in my career where I found myself in this type of situation.”

He concedes that there were multiple errors made during that period, not just by him but by others involved as well. In hindsight, he views it as an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

“There have been many mistakes in this period,” he explained. “I’m not only speaking for myself, but different people were involved. Looking back now, it was a moment when I had the chance to grow up as a player and as a man.”

Gnonto is optimistic about the team’s prospects and believes they deserve a fresh start in the top flight: “Now I feel like everything is sorted and hopefully we can go up and start a new season. I feel like everyone in this club deserves it. The players deserve it for the work they’ve put in, the staff, the club, everyone, the fans as well. Hopefully we can do it for them.”

At 20 years old, Gnonto describes his bond with the Leeds faithful as akin to a romantic relationship, and senses a collective uplift following their earlier struggles. His tally of nine goals and three assists has endeared him to the fans and been instrumental in Leeds reaching the Championship play-off final against Southampton at Wembley.

“In a relationship of love, there are many ups and downs,” Gnonto remarked. “I look at that period as a bit of a down. But from that point, I’ve worked really hard to get into the situation I’m in now and I think the fans can see that. I’ve been working hard in training and games as well. I’m getting what I deserve.”

He was relegated to Italy’s Under-21s this season, despite earning 13 caps for the senior team and making history as Italy’s youngest scorer with his goal against Germany in June 2022 at just 18 years and 222 days old.

And Gnonto is keenly aware that returning to Premier League action is crucial for a recall to Luciano Spalletti’s senior squad.

“That’s my biggest goal with the national team,” he declared. “This is a player’s biggest dream and I know that going back to the Premier League will help me. I just have to enjoy the final on Sunday, try to win and see what’s going to happen.”

He also expressed his understanding of the significance of the upcoming game, not just for the club but especially for the supporters, given Leeds’ status as a one-club city. “I know how big this game is for the club, but more for the fans because Leeds is a city with one club. This club must go back to the Premier League. I don’t think about it being the richest game or anything like that. I just want to play in the Premier League next season.”

Content Source: www.express.co.uk

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