More than a year after his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Giovanni Leoni is entering the home stretch of his convalescence. According to The Athleticthe Liverpool central defender is expected to return to collective training during the week of October 12. The Reds, however, do not want to take any risks with the 19-year-old Italian and plan to initially have him play matches with the U21s so that he gradually regains rhythm and sensations before a return to the first team.
Recruited from Parma during the summer of 2025 for around 30 million euros, Leoni saw his promising debut with Liverpool brutally interrupted. For his first appearance, in the Carabao Cup against Southampton, the defender seriously injured his left knee after just 78 minutes of play. Since then, he has completed his entire rehabilitation at the Reds training center, where his investment would have particularly impressed the staff. Liverpool now intends to cautiously support the return of a player recruited as one of the great defensive talents of its long-term project.
