Giovanni Leoni's long-awaited return to the Liverpool squad has suffered a fresh delay, with manager Andoni Iraola confirming the defender's rehabilitation is running a month behind schedule. The 19-year-old is now expected to begin training with the first team during the next international break in November, rather than the one just passed.
Iraola delivered the update ahead of Liverpool's Premier League trip to face fourth-placed Brentford. The manager explained that the club is taking a cautious approach with Leoni, who suffered a devastating ACL injury, complicated by damage to other knee structures, on his debut against Southampton in September 2025. "It is taking more time than we wanted with Gio," Iraola said. "The plan was to train with the team in the international break, but it will probably be in the next one."
Leoni has spent over a year working with Liverpool's medical staff at the AXA Training Centre, opting to remain on Merseyside for his entire rehabilitation. He described the moment of his injury at Anfield, recalling the immediate pain and the sound, but also the flood of supportive messages from fans that followed. The setback comes as Liverpool, currently ninth in the standings with nine points from six games, handle a congested injuries list that includes the likes of Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, and Cody Gakpo.
The extended timeline means Leoni, a highly-regarded young defender, will have missed the opening nine games of the 2026/27 campaign. His eventual return will be a welcome boost for squad depth, but Iraola stressed the priority is ensuring his long-term fitness. "I talked to the medical team, and it was not just an ACL; it was a bad injury," the manager added. "We have to be very careful with him, and we want to make sure that when he comes back into the team, he stays there."
The team will be looking to build on the momentum from a 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK, a result that moved their recent form to three wins, one draw, and one loss from the last five outings. They will need that form as they prepare for their next fixtures, starting with the trip to Brentford this weekend. Leoni's next major milestone is pencilled in for the November international window, pending final medical clearance.
First reported at liverpoolfc.com
