Liverpool have a 'world-class' young defender who is already developing faster than Virgil van Dijk - opinion

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Giovanni Leoni’s Liverpool career has been short-lived up until this point. The Dutchman has been Liverpool’s rock at the back ever since his £70million transfer from the Saints back in January 2018.

However, in Leoni’s case, even though he’s only 18 years old, it’s clear that he’s developing much faster than Van Dijk, with the Italian already making 17 Serie A appearances. Liverpool need to ease Giovanni Leoni back into things upon his return from injuryIn reality, Leoni’s ACL tear couldn’t have come at a worse time for Liverpool.

Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesIn the short glimpse that Liverpool fans got of him, it was clear that he’s the real deal.And, even if the Reds are struggling towards the back end of the 2025-26 campaign, they shouldn’t force him into the team before he’s ready. The Italian could genuinely be Liverpool’s next Van Dijk, that is, as long as Liverpool give him enough time to recover and get back to his best, of course.