Giovanni Leoni is set to return for Liverpool next season and Arne Slot insists the Italian will feature prominently in his “bigger picture” plans at centre-back.
Leoni has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after tearing his ACL during an otherwise outstanding debut against Southampton in September.
The 19-year-old underwent surgery and has continued his recovery at the AXA Training Centre, while the club have recently pursued deals for young centre-backs Noah Adekoya, 19, Talla Ndiaye, 18, and Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 17.
There could be further plans to bolster the centre-back ranks with ongoing interest in Marc Guehi amid doubts over the futures of Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
But in his pre-Arsenal press conference on Wednesday, Slot maintained a focus on the “bigger picture” of not shelving plans for Leoni.
“You have to look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture is that we’ve signed an unbelievably talented player in Giovanni Leoni who will be back next season,” he told reporters.
“This is the way this club works. As much has been said about our spending last summer, it’s not that there is no limitation on us spending.
“We have to do smart things, and this club has always tried to do smart things, to keep up with the teams we want to compete with. That’s not any different now.”
Giovanni Leoni‘s Liverpool Debut vs. Southampton: The Data
Metric Total Rank (LFC)
Touches 102 3rd
Passing Accuracy 97% (88/91) 1st
Aerial Duels Won 3/3 (100%) 1st
Defensive Contributions 10 2nd
FotMob Rating 7.5 3rd
* Data sourced via FotMob. Defensive contributions include combined tackles, interceptions and clearances.
Leoni was so impressive on his debut in the first team that it would not have been farfetched to suggest he could overtake Konate as Virgil van Dijk‘s first-choice partner.
But instead he has been dealt the mental challenge of overcoming a serious injury before returning to a group which could have changed drastically by next season.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport this month, the teenager reflected that “the hardest part is over” when it comes to his torn ACL.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni pulls on Southampton Joshua Quarshie's shirt whilst challenged by Southampton’s Ronnie Edwards during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I’m doing rehab, swimming and the gym,” Leoni explained.
“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.”
He added: “For two years I’ve been working once a week with a mental coach, Cristian Viola. Every Thursday I go to him or we talk on the phone.”