Regarding Leoni's recovery, The Athletic reports that the club estimates he will resume full training within two weeks. During his injury absence, the player has immersed himself in the history and culture of Liverpool.

The consensus at Liverpool is that the future of the club's centre-back line is exceptionally bright, and Leoni's return from injury later this month will further strengthen this young and promising defensive unit.

When the 19-year-old Italian joined Anfield, he was already considered one of the most exciting young talents in world football, and he has built a growing reputation through his outstanding performances. Since his arrival, several other promising young players have also joined the squad: Jaquet (21 years old), Ndukwe (18 years old), and Ndiaye (18 years old), further bolstering the young defensive reserves. The club also brought in the more experienced Araujo on loan from Barcelona, a move the club will likely make permanent in the future.

According to sources (all speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships), the most exciting prospect in the squad is the slightly older and more experienced Jaquet. Paired with captain Van Dijk in central defence, he has made an impressive start in the Premier League, and everyone is curious to see how far his talent and potential will take him.

However, it is Leoni's return that will truly bring a new dimension to this defence, which is now reaching its peak. He has been absent for over a year due to a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee and is expected to resume full training with the first team within two weeks.

Liverpool signed Leoni from Parma in August 2025 for an initial transfer fee of £26 million, with a clear development plan: to gradually integrate him into the senior squad, alongside Van Dijk or Konaté, who has since departed, to assess his ability to become a long-term starting centre-back and potentially replace one of them in the future.

His debut in the League Cup against Southampton left a very positive first impression on the coaching staff and fans. The young player displayed strong dominance at the heart of defence, showing maturity far beyond his years, until an unfortunate landing at the end of the match caused this severe injury.

There are several similar stories in Anfield's modern history. Degen suffered two broken ribs on his competitive debut in 2008 but was only absent for two months; even Antonio Núñez, after joining under Benítez in August 2004, suffered a left knee injury during his first training session but recovered and returned to play within three months.

Sources say that despite being absent for a year and understandably facing considerable difficulties, Leoni never lost focus. While many long-term injured players choose to recover in the comfort of their homes, he actively chose to remain at the AXA Training Centre, completing his rehabilitation program day after day, aiming to build a closer and deeper relationship with the club's staff.

According to sources, he made full use of this recovery period to deepen his understanding of Liverpool Football Club's history and culture, while also working to improve his English. His mental resilience and professional attitude subsequently earned widespread praise throughout the club; both the fitness and medical teams genuinely admired his approach to overcoming the setback and the remarkable dedication he showed during the long and difficult rehabilitation process.

For the 6-foot-5-inch centre-back, the positive aspect is that even if he had been playing consistently last season, he still has the valuable advantage of youth; and most importantly, the darkest days are now completely behind him. The club expects him to officially resume full training with the first team during the week beginning 12 October.

Leoni comes from an athletic family, with most members being tall. He naturally possesses exceptional height and strength, and his daily extra gym work has further enhanced his physical capabilities. Soon, Liverpool may begin to reap the rewards of this dedication.

His training plan so far has been gradual and progressive, and the club will continue to assess carefully and gradually increase his workload over the coming weeks. With the first team facing 10 matches in 28 days starting 11 October, U21 matches may prove to be an ideal platform for him to gradually regain match fitness and rebuild confidence on the pitch. However, the club will certainly not rush his return; the EFL Cup tie against Doncaster on Tuesday, 7 October, would clearly be too soon for him.

The club will give him sufficient time to complete his recovery and catch up. Jaquet has adapted well to the right centre-back position, Joe Gomez has returned to the squad, and Araujo is gradually integrating into the team, filling the right-back position. Liverpool's centre-back depth is currently quite strong.

Of course, sources also indicate that Leoni, who has waited patiently for so long and is eager to contribute, is impatient. However, after such a challenging period, he also understands that as the light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter, he still needs to maintain sufficient patience.

The three-week international break will be very beneficial. Leoni can use this time to further familiarize himself with the tactical demands of head coach Iraola. The previous head coach had tried to sign him while managing Bournemouth, but Liverpool beat them to it.

Leoni is an aggressive centre-back with excellent aerial ability and very good recovery pace, a perfect fit for the type of defender Iraola favours.

To be frank, his primary goal for the second half of this season is to adapt to the intensity and pace of the Premier League. Before moving to Liverpool, he had made only 17 senior appearances for Parma. Building chemistry and connection on the pitch with teammates will be the most important thing for the rest of this season. Especially with Van Dijk and Gomez's contracts expiring at the end of the season, the team's defensive future will heavily depend on this group of promising young players.

There is no doubt that Liverpool has full confidence in him and Jaquet, but the real test will come after Van Dijk's departure, when the defensive burden will fall on these young players. At the start of next season, they will each be 22 and 20 years old respectively. While their prospects sound exciting, these ages are indeed very young. Ndukwe, currently on loan at Levante, and Ndiaye are also viewed by the club as potential senior centre-backs, who may be able to help in the defensive reconstruction.

In two transfer windows from summer 2025 to early 2026, Liverpool acted decisively and quickly. They convinced Leoni and Jaquet, amid fierce competition, that the team's immediate future belongs to them. Sources say the club also made serious commitments to Ndukwe and Ndiaye through video calls, carefully prepared presentations, and family meetings: if they chose Anfield as their next destination, the club would plan a clear individual development pathway for them.

Not all four of these young players will ultimately succeed in establishing themselves at Liverpool, but over time, the best among them could form a solid foundation for the next generation of The Reds' defence.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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