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Here, Rousing The Kop take a look at those who Leoni will be hoping not to emulate.

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

While some of the names on this list will be instantly recognisable to every Liverpool fan, some will be less so.

Goalkeeper Daniele Padelli falls into the latter camp having played just once for the Reds after joining in January 2007.

The then 22-year-old Padelli arrived on loan from Sampdoria in a slightly strange looking deal, becoming the first Italian to play for Liverpool.

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Padelli did play once for the Reds, making his first and last appearance on the final day of the 2006/7 Premier League campaign, against Charlton.

Years at LiverpoolLiverpool AppearancesLiverpool Goals0.510Daniele Padelli at LiverpoolPhoto by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

After Padelli, along came Andrea Dossena, who was signed from Udinese following John Arne Riise’s exit in 2008.

A full Italy international at the time, Rafa Benitez signed Dossena with the intention of having him fight for a place at left-back with Fabio Aurelio.

Although Aurelio had his injury struggles, it was a battle the Brazilian would comfortably win.

Despite only managing 31 appearances for Liverpool across two years, though, Dossena still had his moments.

Signed from Roma with a long-term injury, the then 25-year-old did not make his debut until the end of October.

There were highlights, and Aquilani admitted he could have stayed at Liverpool, but after just 18 Premier League appearances in his debut season, the writing was on the wall.

Aquilani left on-loan for Juventus in 2010, before another temporary move to AC Milan in 2011.

After only 26 games for Liverpool, the Italy international was released in 2012.

Years At LiverpoolLiverpool AppearancesLiverpool Goals3282Alberto Aquilani at LiverpoolPhoto credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

As Aquilani went out, Liverpool may have been starting to think, for whatever reason, Italian players were just not a good fit at Anfield.

Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers thought he might succeed where Benitez had failed, and so signed Fabio Borini from Roma.

A forward who was once on Chelsea’s books, Borini had scored 10 goals in the 2011/12 campaign and knew Rodgers from their time together at Swansea.

Ultimately, it was anything but.

Borini got a goal on his second ever appearance for Liverpool, but scored only once more in the whole of the 2012/13 season.

A loan move to Sunderland followed, before a final season at Anfield yielded just one goal.

Years At LiverpoolLiverpool AppearancesLiverpool Goals3383Fabio Borini at Liverpool

By now it was clear that it simply was not working for Italian players at Liverpool.

Rodgers was sceptical on Balotelli, but signed him anyway for a bargain fee of £16m.

Balotelli did not have to wait too long for his first goal, but scored only three more and never looked like staying at Anfield for the long-term.

After a poor loan to Milan during the 2015/16 season, Liverpool cut their losses and Balotelli left on a free transfer.

Years At LiverpoolLiverpool AppearancesLiverpool Goals2284Mario Balotelli at Liverpool

Having perhaps learned their lessons, Liverpool stayed away from signing Italian players for a full decade after Balotelli.

They came close in the intervening years, notably with Federico Chiesa after his breakthrough at Fiorentina.

Liverpool would eventually sign Chiesa, but by 2024 his star was massively on the wane.

Although he has become a crowd favourite at Anfield, Chiesa has failed to make the necessary impact, playing only 14 times in his debut campaign.

The 27-year-old did become the first Italian to win the Premier League title with Liverpool, and did make some small contributions across the season.

But with Chiesa expected to leave in the coming weeks, his time with the Reds cannot go down as a success.
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