Liverpool star backed to become a ‘great defender’ by international boss

Liverpool star backed to become a ‘great defender’ by international boss Giovanni Leoni Injury Update Gives Liverpool a Timely Centre-Back Boost Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma in August 2025 to strengthen a position that always needs depth, quality and patience. Young centre-backs rarely arrive fully formed. Leoni certainly did not. What he brought was clear, top-flight experience at a very early age and the sort of profile clubs chase before the price doubles. The Italian defender had made 17 Serie A appearances for Parma and scored once before moving to Anfield. That goal mattered for another reason too, it made him the youngest defender in Parma’s history to score in Italy’s top division. Liverpool saw enough and moved quickly. Leoni rise from Padua to Liverpool Leoni’s route has been fast. After moving to Padua with his family at the age of five, he started out with Vigontina San Paolo and AS Cittadella before joining Padova. He progressed through the academy there and made his senior debut in Serie C in March 2023, aged 16. That tends to tell you two things, physical maturity and trust from coaches. Photo: IMAGO By February 2024 he was at Sampdoria, making 12 appearances in Serie B during a short but useful spell. Parma then took him in August 2024 after promotion, and one season later Liverpool did the same. Straight line, upward trajectory. ACL setback stalled early Liverpool progress His Liverpool debut came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September 2025. It should have been the start of his integration into the squad. Instead, it ended with a serious knee injury. The diagnosis, an anterior cruciate ligament tear, immediately changed the timeline from development to recovery. That matters because young defenders need minutes. Training helps, rehabilitation is necessary, but games are where centre-backs learn timing, positioning and authority. Leoni has had to wait. Roberto Mancini sees elite potential Italy manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear he rates the player highly. “Italy have had some of the greatest defenders in history, so it’s quite difficult to reach those levels. But, I think we have good defenders and we have to work with them,” said Mancini. He then added, “Behind Bastoni and Scalvini, who are still young but have been playing for some time, there are three or four other good options. Palma will be a great defender for me, as will Leoni, as will Ahanor.” Return plan could help Liverpool defence Leoni is now expected to return to full training after the November international break, although Liverpool are set to manage that process carefully. He is unlikely to take part in every session immediately, which is sensible rather than cautious. Knee injuries of this sort demand control. There is also scope for him to build fitness with Rob Page’s Under-21 side before rejoining senior action. His comeback has already been pushed back more than once, from an initial target of late September or mid-October. Liverpool will not rush the next phase. They do not need sentiment here, they need a fit centre-back. If Leoni returns cleanly, that alone will count as a win.