The latest updates indicate that Giovanni Leoni could be ruled out for a spell of around nine months after reportedly rupturing his cruciate ligament during his full Liverpool debut on Tuesday evening.
Leoni could miss nine months with ACL injury
The 18-year-old centre-back was given his first start since his €35m move to Liverpool in their EFL Cup win over Southampton on Tuesday evening.
The former Parma defender earned rave reviews for his first-half performance, but his evening was cut short in the 80th minute when he took a nasty tumble, which required immediate medical intervention.
The stretcher was called for, the youngster could be seen taking oxygen, and he was carried off in worrying scenes in front of the Anfield crowd.
Various outlets are now reporting that Leoni has torn his cruciate ligament (ACL), which, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport, is likely to keep him sidelined for a period of around nine months.
As per Fabrizio Romano, Leoni will try his best to be back, fit and available before the end of the 2025-26 season.
Teammate Federico Chiesa has already sent Leoni all the best in his injury recovery process: “I’m sorry for Giovanni Leoni for what has happened to him,” the former Juventus forward said after full-time.
“We don’t know yet what will happen to him but I hope it’s nothing bad because he has a bright future ahead, he’s a fantastic guy and a great footballer.
“He’s just 18, but I hope it’s nothing bad, but we’ll see.
“I saw him last year in Serie A and he already showed calmness on the ball and a great defensive mind, an Italian defensive mind like the old defenders back in the day. I hope it’s nothing.”
Baldy sloth doesn’t give him a 5ingle minute all sea5on and then throws him in for a full game. Another young italian talent ruined. He should’ve stayed at Parma to develop.
He should have stayed at Parma. This was a disaster from the start and now this is even worse. Follow the money for no playing time, except for a useless cup game. Now it’s the end of your career. Hopefully a lesson to the other young Italian players.
If he had respon5ible parents, they would’ve accepted the move but asked that he 5tay at parma to develop for two more years. But 99.99% of footballers follow the money so nothing will change.
Not one fan who follows Serie A thought this was a good move. Especially when you see how baldy sloth has underused Chiesa.