Liverpool coach Slot: Italy talent Leoni becoming ‘a beast’ despite injury
Liverpool coach Arne Slot says Italy talent Giovanni Leoni is becoming ‘a beast’ as the promising defender continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Slot: Leoni is becoming a ‘beast’
Liverpool coach Slot provided a fitness update on Italian centre-back Leoni, who is recovering from a serious knee injury suffered at the beginning of the season.
“If you look at Giovanni Leoni, I don’t know if you once in a while see some Instagram posts from the club, this guy becomes a beast!” Slot said at a press conference, via ThisIsAnfield.
The English media outlet notes that Leoni has been building muscle in his upper body while recovering from the injury he sustained in September 2025 during his first-ever appearance with the Reds.
Leoni, 19, joined Liverpool from Parma in a deal worth nearly €30m last summer.
Leoni had played only 19 matches in Serie A with Parma, scoring one goal, before his move to Anfield in 2025.
The Italian centre-back remains under contract with Liverpool until June 2031.
The ex-Parma talent was called up once to the senior Italy national team in September 2025 but has yet to make his international debut with the Azzurri.