Liverpool have received a positive update from young defender Giovanni Leoni, who insists the most difficult phase of his recovery from a serious knee injury is now behind him.
The Devastating Debut Setback
Giovanni Leoni's promising start to life at Anfield was brutally cut short during his full debut for the club. The 19-year-old Italian centre-back, who joined from Parma in a £26 million deal last summer, suffered a devastating ACL tear in a Carabao Cup tie against Southampton in September.
After impressing for 81 minutes, the teenager landed awkwardly, resulting in immediate and severe pain. He was visibly distressed as he was substituted and taken straight down the tunnel, requiring surgery the following month to begin the long road to rehabilitation.
Focus on the Mind During Rehabilitation
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport's Sport Week, Leoni provided an update on his current condition and mindset. "Now the hardest part is over," the defender stated, outlining his daily routine which includes rehab sessions, swimming, and gym work.
He emphasised the psychological challenge of such a major injury for a professional footballer. "For a footballer, an injury like this can be the most difficult moment in their career, but now I just want to train my mind to come back stronger than before," Leoni explained. "I think that's the key aspect: the mind can do most of the work."
Reflecting on the moment of injury, he revealed he knew instantly how serious it was. "I immediately realised it was that kind of injury," he said. "It was a great, intense pain, the strongest I've ever felt." Despite the trauma, Leoni is trying to view the experience as a formative one, suggesting fate had brought him to this point to emerge stronger.
Squad Impact and Manager's View
Leoni's injury has had a tangible impact on Liverpool's defensive options this season. His initial prognosis suggested a potential return date around September 2026, meaning he will miss the remainder of the current campaign.
The situation was compounded in December when fellow defender Joe Gomez sustained a hamstring problem. However, manager Arne Slot dismissed speculation that the club would dip into the January transfer market for a new centre-back.
The Dutchman did, however, acknowledge the significance of losing Leoni so early in his Anfield career. "First of all for himself but the injury of Giovanni Leoni is, of course, it has quite a lot of impact," Slot said. He highlighted that with four specialist centre-backs planned for the season, an ACL injury to one of them was "not very helpful" and a tough blow for the squad to absorb.
For now, the focus remains on Leoni's meticulous rehabilitation. The forgotten star of Liverpool's summer business is firmly fixed on the future, determined to use this setback as fuel for a stronger comeback at Anfield.
