NafisaLeeds United winger Willy Gnonto has appeared to send a pointed message after leaving Elland Road, with his latest comments about his move to Fiorentina likely to catch the attention of Daniel Farke.
The Italian forward’s time at Leeds had started with plenty of promise. After arriving from FC Zurich in 2022, Gnonto quickly forced his way into the first-team picture despite initially being viewed as more of an Under-21 prospect.
His pace, directness and willingness to take on defenders made him one of the most exciting young players at the club, while Leeds’ decision to resist interest in him underlined the belief that he could become an important figure at Elland Road.
But things gradually changed.
Gnonto increasingly found himself on the fringes of Farke’s plans, with regular starts becoming difficult to secure. The winger remained involved with the squad but was rarely treated as one of the manager’s first-choice attacking players.
That situation became particularly frustrating last season.
The 22-year-old made 23 Premier League appearances, but only accumulated 524 minutes, meaning the vast majority of his involvement came from the bench. For a player still trying to establish himself at senior level, it was hardly the platform he would have wanted.
And with Leeds having other attacking options ahead of him, a temporary departure eventually became the logical solution.
Rather than spending another season fighting for occasional minutes, Gnonto now has the opportunity to return to the country where he was born and finally experience regular top-flight football in Italy.
His destination is Fiorentina.
The Serie A club had been pursuing the winger towards the end of the transfer window, with renowned sporting director Fabio Paratici reportedly keen on bringing him to Florence.
There was even a late scare for Fiorentina when suggestions emerged that Leeds could reconsider the move if they failed to complete their own attacking recruitment before the deadline.
The situation ultimately worked out for all parties.
Leeds secured Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt, strengthening their options in attack, while Gnonto was allowed to complete his season-long loan to Fiorentina.
And it was after arriving in Florence that Gnonto delivered the words that could easily be interpreted as a subtle dig at the situation he was leaving behind.
Rather than expressing disappointment about his time at Leeds, the Italian chose to focus on what lies ahead — but his wording was certainly interesting given his lack of opportunities under Farke.
Speaking on Fiorentina Official via Firenze Viola, he said: “This is my first experience in Serie A with the first team. Doing it at Fiorentina is a source of pride.
“I’m young, but I’ve still had a wealth of experiences that have helped me grow. I want to share them here.
“Yes, they [the president and coach] all welcomed me warmly.
“They’re all good people and excited to see me. I hope to repay their faith on the pitch.
“I really wanted to be here, now comes the good part: I know what I can give and I want to make myself available to everyone.”
That line — “now comes the good part” — is the one that stands out.
Gnonto did not directly criticise Farke or Leeds, but considering how limited his playing time became under the German, it is easy to see why the comment could be interpreted as a pointed reminder of what he believes he has been missing.
The winger now has the chance to prove himself in Serie A, rather than spending another campaign waiting for opportunities from the bench.
There is also a significant incentive attached to the move.
Fiorentina have an option to buy Gnonto for €15m, meaning the Italian has more than just his reputation to play for during his time in Florence.
If he can establish himself, produce consistently and convince Fiorentina that he belongs at the club permanently, his loan could eventually become a full transfer.
For Leeds, the arrangement provides a chance to move on from a player who had slipped down the attacking pecking order while retaining the possibility of a permanent fee.
For Gnonto, however, the equation is much more personal.
After struggling to become a regular starter at Elland Road, he finally has a fresh opportunity to show exactly what he can do when given the responsibility and minutes he has been craving.
He may not have taken a direct swipe at Farke.
But after leaving Leeds, Gnonto’s message is clear enough: he believes the next chapter can be very different.
And in Florence, he appears convinced that now comes the good part.
Nafisa
