Liverpool Receive Bad News as Giovanni Leoni’s Return Is Delayed
Liverpool have suffered another frustrating setback after head coach Andoni Iraola revealed that Giovanni Leoni’s return to team training has been pushed back by approximately one month.
The 19-year-old Italian defender has been working hard to recover from a serious knee injury that has kept him out of action for more than a year. Leoni sustained the injury during his Liverpool debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September 2025.
The defender, who joined Liverpool from Parma in a deal worth approximately £26 million, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the match. However, further information has revealed that the damage to his knee was more extensive than initially expected.
Liverpool had hoped Leoni would return to team training during the most recent international break. Unfortunately, that timetable has now changed, with November’s international break becoming the new target for his return to training with his teammates.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League encounter against Brentford, Iraola explained that the medical team’s assessment revealed additional damage around the defender’s knee.
The Liverpool boss made it clear that the club must handle Leoni’s rehabilitation carefully rather than rushing him back before he is ready.
Although the delay is disappointing, Liverpool’s priority is to ensure the young defender has fully recovered and can remain available once he returns to competitive action.
Iraola stressed that the situation is better described as a delay rather than a major setback, with the club continuing to monitor Leoni’s progress.
Liverpool supporters will now hope the Italian can successfully complete the next stage of his rehabilitation and move closer to making his long-awaited return.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are also monitoring the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Brentford. All three players have missed recent matches because of injuries sustained during international duty.
The Reds will be hoping their injured players can return as soon as possible, but Leoni’s recovery remains a situation that requires patience.
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