Italian defender Giovanni Leoni is on the verge of returning to training with his club, Liverpool, after a year-long absence due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He is considered a key piece in the Reds' plan to rebuild their center-back position for the future.
The 19-year-old Italian player joined Liverpool from Parma, but the Reds' management did not stop there. They continued on the same path by signing Jeremy Jacquet (21 years old), Eviani N'Diaye (18 years old), and Mor Talla N'Diaye (18 years old) to reinforce the defense with young talent, while also loaning in experienced Ronald Araujo.
The Athletic revealed that much of the excitement within the Reds' camp centers around Jacquet, who is slightly older than the others and possesses more experience. There is significant interest in seeing how far his potential can take him, especially following his impressive start in the Premier League alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
However, Leoni's anticipated return to full training within two weeks, after being sidelined for over 12 months due to an ACL injury in his left knee, will add a new dimension to a defensive line that has begun to look excellent.
The newspaper noted that Liverpool's plan regarding Leoni was clear from the moment he arrived from Parma for a fee of £26 million in August 2025.
The plan involved gradually integrating him into the first team, whether alongside Van Dijk or Ibrahima Konaté (who later left the club), to assess whether he possessed the necessary qualities to eventually succeed one of the starting center-backs in the long term.
The publication indicated that despite Leoni's year-long absence from the pitch—a period undoubtedly filled with difficult days—he maintained high focus throughout. He chose to complete his rehabilitation program at the "AXA" Training Centre, unlike other players who prefer returning to more comfortable environments during long absences, driven by his desire to build stronger relationships with the club's staff.
Leoni wisely used this time to get to know Liverpool FC better and improve his English. His strong mentality and positive attitude have received widespread praise, as the medical and performance staff hold him in high regard for the way he handled the setback of his injury and the dedication he showed during the demanding rehabilitation program, according to The Athletic.
A positive point for this tall defender (standing nearly six feet) is that time is still on his side, with hope that he will return to full group training starting October 12.
His training program has progressed through staged phases so far, and carefully considered decisions will be made in the coming weeks. Matches for the under-21 team may provide an opportunity to boost his confidence and regain match fitness, particularly as the first team prepares to play 10 matches in 28 days starting October 11.
Nevertheless, there is no need to rush his return, as the Carabao Cup match against Doncaster on Tuesday (October 7) is considered too early for him. Leoni will be given sufficient time to acclimatize and catch up with the team. With Jacquet settling well into the right-sided center-back role, Joe Gomez back in contention, and Araujo increasingly integrating into the squad as an emergency right-back, Liverpool's defensive options appear solid.