Leeds winger Willy Gnonto reveals he was too intimidated to speak to Lionel Messi when they met at the 2022 Finalissima. Also, Liverpool defender Nat Phillips recounts his surprising Cruyff-turn on Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a 2021 match.
Willy Gnonto : I was too scared to talk to MessiEven at just 21, Willy Gnonto has met a lot of people in the game. But it won't surprise you too much to hear that there was one particular icon who made him too nervous to talk.
All you need to know - Streaming Sky Sports on Boxing Day with NOW | Get Sky SportsLive EFL on Sky Sports+ on Boxing Day & how to watch | Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsAppGot Sky? Choose your match stream on Boxing Day the Sky Sports appNot got Sky? Get instant access on Boxing Day your device with NOWLionel Messi, of course. The two crossed paths at international level during the 2022 Finalissima between Italy and Argentina - when Gnonto was a youngster training with the main squad. 'It was with the national team once,' the Leeds winger recalls. 'We played in Wembley but I couldn't actually speak to him because I was too scared! I couldn't move. 'I watch a lot of football and try to learn something new from everyone, whether it was from my dad or anyone in football. 'But Messi was my idol growing up. I'd watch his videos every time and try to replicate what he was doing.' When Nat Phillips Cruyff-turned Zlatan 'It's not like I thought, 'I'm going to do something to try and showboat here!' says Nat Phillips, the Liverpool defender currently on loan at Derby County. Of course, he's referring to the famous incident in 2021, when he, as a no-nonsense defender, saw fit to Cruyff-turn out of his own box past Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was with AC Milan. 'I was actually going to whack it out of play. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zlatan closing me down from the angle. 'I think he was trying to read me smashing it out, so I just kind of naturally had a quick change of mind. I rolled my studs over it and turned out the way. 'Afterwards I could hear the reactions of my team-mates and the stadium, so I know it must have looked nice. 'It was only when I saw the replays after it that I really got to see it properly for mysel
Football Lionel Messi Willy Gnonto Nat Phillips Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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