Italy manager Roberto Mancini travelled to England recently hoping to watch Giovanni Leoni return to competitive action, but the Liverpool defender’s comeback has been delayed further.
Leoni has been out for more than a year after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in September 2025. Both his club and country are still waiting for the 20-year-old to resume playing.
Andoni Iraola said last month that Leoni was expected to return to group training during the extended break between September and October. However, his rehabilitation has taken longer than originally anticipated, according to Liverpool.com.
Mancini’s trip to England was intended to give him the opportunity to watch several Italian players, including Leoni. The defender was not yet ready to return, meaning the Italy manager will have to wait longer to assess him in person.
Mancini is hoping Liverpool’s medical team will approve Leoni’s return after the November break.
Leoni joined Liverpool from Parma and made his first Italy squad in September 2025, when he was selected by then-manager Gennaro Gattuso. That call-up came only weeks before he sustained the ACL injury on his Liverpool debut.
The defender has yet to make his senior debut for the Azzurri and has made just one appearance for Liverpool.
