Ex-PL chief says Liverpool teenager is “as good as Virgil van Dijk”
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old Italian centre-back, recently signed for Liverpool from Parma in a £26 million plus add-ons deal. Despite interest from Newcastle, Liverpool secured his transfer after the player expressed a strong preference for the Reds, and Parma’s CEO Federico Cherubini highlighted how Liverpool's attractive offer and Leoni’s own wishes influenced the decision to reject Newcastle’s higher bid. Leoni has been praised as a promising defensive talent, having impressed in Serie A and earned a call-up to the Italian national team under coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Immediately after signing, Liverpool manager Arne Slot publicly compared Leoni to club captain Virgil van Dijk, highlighting their shared towering height. This compliment underscores the high expectations placed on Leoni to fill a vital role in Liverpool’s defensive lineup, which was seen as needing reinforcement following the departure of Jarell Quansah. The young defender wears the number 15 shirt this season and joins a group of senior centre-backs at Liverpool, restoring depth to the position.
Leoni expressed excitement about his new chapter at Liverpool, calling joining the club an “easy decision” and describing the AXA Training Centre as “fantastic.” Although he had yet to meet many teammates at the time of his first interview, he looked forward to integrating into the squad under Arne Slot's guidance.
The official Liverpool social media channels shared footage of a warm exchange between Leoni and Slot, emphasizing mutual enthusiasm. Slot informed Leoni about the team’s training schedule ahead of their next fixture against Newcastle, signaling Leoni’s integration process is underway.
PP