Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto has conceded that the departures of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter were difficult for him at a personal level as he was very close to both of them.
Rutter and Summerville were stars of the Leeds team that missed out on promotion by a whisker last season when they lost the playoff final against Southampton.
However, Leeds lost both players in the summer to Premier League clubs with Summerville joining West Ham and Rutter ending up at Brighton.
The departure of the two players meant Gnonto has again emerged as a key player for Leeds this season and has started every game of their Championship campaign thus far.
However, the winger conceded that at a personal level, it was hard for him to see Rutter and Summerville leave in the last transfer window.
The Leeds United star admits that he can’t be as close to everyone as he was with Rutter and Summerville
Gnonto is an enthusiastic figure in the Leeds squad and is often seen smiling and joking around in the training ground.
He insisted that he has a good relationship with almost everyone in the squad but admitted that Rutter and Summerville were his closest friends.
The Italian conceded that while he is friends with everyone, he can’t be as close to everyone else as he was to the duo when they were at Elland Road.
However, he insisted that the atmosphere inside the squad is positive as they still have a good group of players at Leeds.
“I was friends with everyone really”, Gnonto said on BBC Radio Leeds.
“I know I was closer maybe to Cry and Georgie but that’s normal as you can’t be as close with everyone as I was with them.
“It’s not that I need to make new friends as I have always been friends with everyone but yes, it’s a bit difficult now that they are gone.
“But at the same time, everyone is nice, we enjoy every day and it’s a good group really.”
