Giovanni Leoni has revealed he chose to complete his rehabilitation from an ACL injury at Liverpool's training base to build relationships at his new club and improve his English. The Italian defender has thanked fans for their support over the last 12 months as he closes in on a return to full team training this month.
Decision to stay at Kirkby
Leoni suffered the injury on his Liverpool debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September 2025. The centre-back, who joined from Parma for around £26m in August of last year, was around a month into his new career on Merseyside when the injury struck.
The 19-year-old had the option to return to Italy to continue his recovery in more familiar surroundings, but in an interview as part of the club's commercial agreement with training partners AXA, Leoni detailed why he preferred to remain at the Kirkby facility.
"I stayed here [at Liverpool] since the first day until now because I wanted to do the rehab with the physios here," Leoni said. "Yeah [it was good] for the relationships and for the [learning of] English. It was the best thing to do during that period, so I decided to stay with my team-mates in Liverpool for practice, for everything."
Debut and injury
Leoni excelled on his debut against Southampton but was forced off late after suffering a serious knee injury that has kept him sidelined ever since. Reflecting on that match, he said: "It was my first game at Anfield with my fans, my team-mates and I played a good game [against Southampton] and then I had the injury.
"I can say now, looking back, I’m glad I made my debut in front of my fans and when I had my injury I was with Conor (Bradley) and I said: ‘This is an ACL, 100%’. And then the doctor came and I said the same thing to him because I could feel the pain and even the sound of the injury. But after that I received a lot of messages and support and help from the fans and looking back I can just say thank you to everyone."
Relationship with team-mates
On his relationship with team-mate Conor Bradley, who is also recovering from a long-term injury and was alongside him for the AXA 'Player Portraits' assignment, Leoni added: "Since his injury (against Arsenal in January) we have been together every day because of his rehab and we have spent a lot of time together. We have a good relationship and we know each other more and more, day by day. So I am really happy to have a good relationship with him."
Leoni also credited Federico Chiesa for helping him settle in: "[Federico Chiesa] was really important for me at the beginning because I couldn't speak English, so he helped me a lot for everything at the beginning, so I am really glad to have him."
Leoni, who turns 20 in December, is expected back in training this month. Liverpool return to Premier League action on Sunday at home to Manchester City (4.30pm kick-off).
