Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni is finally nearing his return from a long-term injury layoff, according to an update from reliable journalist Lewis Steele.
The Italian hasn’t featured for the Reds since last September, in what proved to be his first and only appearance for the club to date, following a summer move from Parma.
It was a highly impressive Liverpool debut against Southampton in the EFL Cup, only for Leoni to cruelly suffer ACL damage and not play again since.
The highly-rated defender has been working hard on his recovery for many months alongside Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike, and good news has now emerged.
According to Steele on X, Leoni is expected to be back in Liverpool training during the September international break, with updates also provided on two other players:
“LFC injury update: Joe Gomez will return to training next week, it is hoped. Giovanni Leoni will look to begin training during the international break and Federico Chiesa will be similar.”
Giovanni Leoni can be Liverpool’s next great centre-back
Overhyping any young player can be reckless, especially after such a serious injury, but Leoni undoubtedly looks like a player with an incredibly high ceiling.
At only 19, he plays with a maturity beyond his years and doesn’t appear to have a weakness, with legendary former AC Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi making it clear that he is an admirer in the past:
“We’re dealing with a talent, there’s no doubt about that. Of course, at only eighteen, there’s considerable room for improvement. For example, in my opinion, he could become even more confident in his playmaking. I appreciated his commanding attitude, because Leoni was a true commander in Parma’s defence last season: leadership is clearly in his DNA, and that’s another aspect to consider.”
Liverpool must handle Leoni with care, rather than rushing him back too quickly, but having him available again will be a big boost for Andoni Iraola.
Virgil van Dijk can’t go on forever, but the teenager looks like a natural heir to him, along with the equally prodigious Jeremy Jacquet. Hopefully, they are the Reds’ next great centre-back pairing.
