In his column for Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday, Italian manager and all around football legend Arrigo Sacchi heaped praise on Giovanni Leoni ahead of his transfer to Liverpool FC.
“Liverpool would make a great signing and he could thrive in the Premier League. It’s a shame he’s eluding the big clubs in Serie A. On the one hand, the news makes me immensely happy, and on the other, it makes me a little angry.”
“Let me explain – I’m happy that an Italian player is receiving praise from a major club like Liverpool, but I wish AC Milan or Inter, Juventus, or Napoli were competing for his transfer, not a foreign club.”
“We’ll see if the deal goes through, but in any case, I feel like the Reds would make a great coup by securing this boy, whom I followed with curiosity and interest in the second half of last season. Leoni is only eighteen, and I’m told he’s a decent guy, hard-working, humble, and very determined.”
“Character is crucial in a footballer’s career, as is temperament. If these two qualities are present, then the journey can proceed without any particular problems. It seems to me that Leoni is off to a good start: after all, if a major European club like Liverpool is persistently pursuing him, there must be a reason.”
“Leoni is a modern central defender. He knows how to play man-to-man, he’s gritty, he’s physically strong, and he doesn’t let anyone move him. I remember a splendid performance he gave against a centre-forward of Lukaku’s calibre.”
“The kid wasn’t scared at all in front of the great champion. He followed him to every area of the pitch, because the plan called for a fixed marking, he engaged in aerial and ground duels, and I don’t recall a single time Lukaku managed to get past his opponent.”
“We’re dealing with a talent, there’s no doubt about that. Of course, at only eighteen, there’s considerable room for improvement. For example, in my opinion, he could become even more confident in his playmaking. I appreciated his commanding attitude, because Leoni was a true commander in Parma’s defence last season: leadership is clearly in his DNA, and that’s another aspect to consider.”
It’s very big praise from the manager Jürgen Klopp looks up to, and certainly bodes for big things to come from the kid.