Liverpool coach Slot: Italy talent Leoni becoming ‘a beast’ despite injury

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.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Giovanni Leoni of Liverpool receives medical treatment to an injury before being substituted off during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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.