Liverpool boss Arne Slot has hailed new signing Giovanni Leoni as ‘impressive’ following the centre-back’s first days with the Reds.
Leoni, 18, joined from Parma in a deal worth £26m plus add-ons and has signed a contract until 2031. The Italy U19 international has gone straight into training with Liverpool’s senior squad at the AXA Training Centre and has already made a smooth transition.
Arne Slot shared his thoughts on the young defender during his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle on Monday:
“He is a good-looking guy, as [with] most Italians! He has trained with us three times now, I think. If you look at his transfer fee, you can expect that he is already quite grown up for his age – and that’s exactly what I saw. He comes in as an 18-year-old just playing with his new teammates as if he is here for longer. Impressive; if you look at how tall he is, fast, comfortable on the ball.”
The Liverpool manager also highlighted how the squad’s environment helps new players settle quickly:
“It also tells you something about the team. If you come to this club, if you come into this team, you feel at ease from the start because it’s a very good and nice group to start your Liverpool career in.”
Leoni began his career at Padova, had a short spell at Sampdoria, and joined Parma last summer. He played 17 games in Serie A during his first campaign, attracting interest from both Milan clubs before opting for a move abroad to Liverpool.
With his physical presence, technical ability, and early adaptation, the Dutch Manager sees Leoni as a bright prospect for the Reds, a player capable of making an impact in the future.
