Leeds United loan star’s new club sack manager 24 hours after debut as statement released
Leeds United deadline day loan exit Willy Gnonto is already having to deal with a change of manager following the sacking of Fiorentina boss Fabio Grosso.
Gnonto joined Fiorentina on loan for the season last week, with Elland Road chiefs sanctioning his exit after making progress on Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jean-Matteo Bahoya. The Serie A outfit hold an option to buy and should that be triggered and add-ons met, Leeds stand to make around £18million.
Fiorentina have endured a torrid start to the new season, however, and suffered their third straight defeat on Saturday at home to Torino. Gnonto made his debut off the bench at half-time but struggled to make an impact, with La Viola blowing a one-goal lead in the final 16 minutes to lose 2-1.
The Italian club have now decided to sack head coach Grosso, confirming the news with a blunt 22-word statement. The statement, posted on the club’s website, read: “ACF Fiorentina announces that Fabio Grosso has been relieved of his duties as coach of the men’s first team as of today.”
Grosso was only appointed as Fiorentina head coach in June after an impressive spell at Sassuolo but could barely have started worse. The Florence-based side were thumped 4-0 by Roma on the opening weekend before a 3-0 defeat at home to newly-promoted Frosinone.
Gnonto joined a number of fellow former Premier League players at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last week, with Beto also joining in a deadline day move from Everton. Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is also a regular.
Fiorentina will now begin their search for a new manager, with Gnonto’s loan spell thrown into chaos less than one week on from his arrival. According to reports in Italy, the Italian side are set to re-hire Paolo Vanoli, the man Grosso replaced just three months ago.
Vanoli spent much of last season in interim charge of Fiorentina but was not given the job permanently. Reports suggest club chiefs have now U-turned on that decision with a verbal agreement in place for him to become Gnonto’s new boss.
