Giovanni Leoni continues to make strides in his recovery from an ACL injury, but the latest report is that he will not return to team training this season.
The 19-year-old cruelly had his season ended on debut in September, with the young centre-back tasked with a long road to recovery just months after moving to a new country.
He has been working on the outdoor pitch at the AXA Training Centre since March, but strictly staying away from contact training as he builds the strength back in his knee.
Earlier this month, a report from Italy claimed Leoni had been pencilled in to return to team training by the end of April, seven months on from surgery.
But *The Telegraph*‘s Dominic King now reports that while the teenager has been cleared to work outside on the grass, he will not return to team training this season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It contradicts reports from Leoni’s native Italy, but supports the idea that Leoni can focus entirely on reporting fit for the first day of pre-season in July.
A typical ACL recovery for a professional footballer to return to competitive action is nine to 12 months, with this timeframe reducing the risk of re-injury.
Virgil van Dijk, for comparison, played in a pre-season friendly 10 months after his ACL injury and went on to enjoy a consistent campaign for Liverpool, experiencing only one minor fitness issue.
Leoni has remained within the first-team bubble on his road to recovery, aiding in his transition after leaving Italy for the first time in his young life.
He will hope to enjoy a strong pre-season alongside new centre-back signing Jeremy Jacquet, who is also currently sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury.
The young duo are seen as the future of Liverpool’s central defence, a position which received a timely boost after the Merseyside derby, with Ibrahima Konate revealing he is “close” to agreeing a new contract.
The Frenchman’s future has been in the spotlight throughout the season, but retaining his services ensures the club do not have to search for a direct replacement but instead consider market opportunities.