Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni has undergone surgery to repair his torn ACL this week, with the teenager sharing a positive update following the successful operation.
The 18-year-old is set to miss the remainder of the season and likely the start of the next after sustaining the injury on his debut for the Reds.
It is a cruel blow for a player who had only recently left his native Italy to begin life in a new country and adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
Liverpool will provide Leoni with world-class medical support, starting with his operation earlier this week.
Posting a photo from his hospital bed on Instagram, Leoni wrote: “Surgery done. Thanks everyone for the messages. I’ll be back soon.”
His layoff also rules him out of the upcoming World Cup, where he would almost certainly have been part of Italy’s squad, as well as pre-season preparations with Liverpool.
That means both the player and head coach Arne Slot must delay their plans for his integration into the first team.
Leoni impressed in his brief appearance against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, showing early signs that he could push Ibrahima Konaté for a starting role alongside Virgil van Dijk.
His setback could force Liverpool to revisit the transfer market for defensive reinforcements in January, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi among the names linked.
In the meantime, Slot may be forced to consider makeshift options such as Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back, alongside natural defenders Van Dijk, Konaté, and Joe Gomez.
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