Humble Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto has rejected lofty West Ham compliments after comparisons to legend Paolo Di Canio.
West Ham and Leeds may be locked in what promises to be an intense battle to beat the drop this season.
But there was still time for some light relief and a trip down memory lane for Leeds and West Ham fans this week.
Both the Hammers and Leeds have had fantastic players and witnessed some stunning goals down the years.
Nobody will forget Tony Yeboah’s famously vicious volleyed winner in Leeds’ victory over Liverpool back in 1995.
It was voted the best goal in Leeds history and is still, rightly, regarded as one of the best strikes in Premier League history.
Five years later, though, it was replaced by the reigning king of Premier League goals when West Ham star Di Canio levitated over the hallowed turf of Upton Park to send an inexplicably perfect scissor kick volley flying into the net.
It is a sublime strike West Ham fans are understandably proud of to this day.
And there was a touch of nostalgia for Hammers supporters this week when Leeds thumped Cardiff 5-2 in an FA Cup replay at Elland Road.
The phones of West Ham fans were pinging just moments into that Leeds clash with messages that ‘Gnonto just did a Di Canio’.
With less than 30 seconds on the clock the diminutive Italian saw the ball dropping over the head of a defender, kept his eye on the ball and in an eerily similar position in the box to Di Canio launched into the air with both feet off the ground – just like the West Ham legend – before sending a right-foot scissor-kick volley past the helpless Cardiff ‘keeper.
There is no denying the moment of Leeds magic – from an Italian no less – was remarkably similar to Di Canio’s legendary strike.
The goal set tongues wagging as fans debated which was better.
But humble Leeds star Gnonto rejected the lofty West Ham compliments after comparisons to legend Di Canio.
Gnonto was not even alive when Di Canio scored that famous goal for West Ham against Wimbledon 23 years ago but make no mistake he has seen his compatriot’s wonder goal.
“Yeah (I can see the comparison), I think his goal was better,” the Leeds star told ITV.
“I think so (Di Canio’s was better) I think mine was also good. We wanted to start the game well and happy we did it.”
We agree with Gnonto – but take nothing away from this superb little player’s beautiful goal.
He is clearly a down to earth star who is going places.
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