LFC Live - Giovanni Leoni opens up on £26m Liverpool transfer and Virgil van Dijk impact

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Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni (Image: Getty Images)

Giovanni Leoni has opened up on his admiration for new Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk and admitted he was his "idol" growing up.

Leoni, 18, signed for the Reds in a £26million plus add-ons deal from Parma last month.

The teenage sensation made 17 appearances in Serie A last season and caught the eye of several clubs this summer, including Liverpool, who were the first to make a serious move and ended up securing his signature.

Although Leoni hasn't made his Liverpool debut yet, he has a huge future at the Reds and is going to have a pivotal involvement in Arne Slot's squad this season, as they look to enjoy another successful season.

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Leoni has trained on several occasions with the rest of his Liverpool teammates and was named on the bench for the first time against Newcastle United last Monday, though he didn't manage to get on.

Among those Liverpool players that Leoni has trained alongside is Van Dijk, who has since been named as his idol.

Speaking after Leoni was called up to Italy national team duty, he told reporters: "It has always been Van Dijk.

Now, I can play alongside him and share the locker room, he is an exceptional person and a phenomenal player."

Leoni didn't expect his first call-up to the Italian set-up, but he is delighted that head coach Gennaro Gattuso made the decision to select him.

"Indeed, it is an indescribable emotion; it is a pride to be part of this team and train with players of this calibre," Leoni added.

The now-Liverpool centre-back then revealed he had spoken to Gattuso during the summer but his first call-up was still a major surprise.

It means a lot to hear these words from the coach who has had a very important career," he continued.

"I will have to show on the field what I can do to help the team.

"I still had to get used to Liverpool, but I had spoken with the coach during the summer, we had a conversation, and I was called up.

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