Giovanni Leoni sustained an ACL injury on his Liverpool debut and he has opened up on his recovery from the problem that will keep him out for the rest of the season
14:38, 03 Jan 2026
Giovanni Leoni lies on the ground with injury
Giovanni Leoni lies on the ground with an injury(Image: Getty Images)
Giovanni Leoni admits he immediately knew he had suffered a serious knee injury after the devastating setback on his Liverpool debut.
The Italian teenager arrived at Liverpool from Parma in the summer for a reported fee of $35 million (£26 million) and made his debut in the Carabao Cup game against Southampton. But the night ended in heartbreak for Leoni after he sustained an ACL injury.
He is set to miss the remainder of the season in a bitter blow to Arne Slot, who has been short of defensive options this term, and Leoni concedes he knew the severity of the problem straight away.
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Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "As soon as I hit the ground, I told Conor Bradley, my teammate: 'I tore my cruciate ligament.'
"It had never happened to me before, but it was a strange feeling, I thought, 'That's it, period.' It was a huge, intense pain, the strongest I've ever felt in my life."
Leoni is now focusing on his comeback and believes he is over the worst part of the injury. He added: "The hardest part is over now. I'm doing rehab, swimming, and the gym.
Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool plays during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton
Giovanni Leoni has suffered an ACL injury at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
"For a footballer, an injury like this can be the hardest moment of their career, but now I just want to train my mind to come back stronger than before. I think that's the key: the mind can do most of the work.
"I can't think long-term; I only think about training my mind. I'm determined to look at the day ahead, do what makes me feel good, and focus on recovery. Setting long-term goals means having new problems if I slow down."
Leoni also opened up on his move to Liverpool, having been targeted by a host of clubs in Serie A. But he insists none of those sides came close to denying a dream transfer to the Premier League.
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He added: "There's never been anything concrete with any Italian club. Sure, when there's interest, you think about it, but there wasn't one team that was closer than the others. I didn't set any goals, I just wanted to see what would happen day by day.
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"When a team like Liverpool calls you, it's hard not to look at them differently. I have to say that every day I believe the Premier League was the best choice; I've had the support and affection of my teammates.
"On TV, you wonder what they'll be like, but then you get to know them and realize they're just normal people."