Andoni Iraola has admitted that Giovanni Leoni is struggling to recover from a knee injury suffered a year ago.
Andoni Iraola delivered a concerning update on the young centre‑back’s rehabilitation, confirming that Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined as his recovery has encountered further delays.
The injury, which occurred just weeks after Leoni joined Liverpool, is now 13 months old. What initially appeared to be an ACL tear has proven to be a more complex issue, involving multiple structures around the knee.
Leoni Struggles in Rehab
“It’s taking more time than we wanted. The planning was to have him training with the squad during the recent international break, but that will now likely be pushed to the next break,” Iraola said. “We have lost roughly a month in the process.”
He emphasized the importance of a cautious rehab to ensure a sustainable return. “Giovanni’s confidence will be key, and we want to make sure once he joins the team he stays there in a good place,” the manager added.
While the delay is not a complete setback, it does represent a significant hiccup in Leoni’s recovery timeline, pushing his expected return to the next international window. Iraola remains optimistic that the defender will be ready to begin training soon after that break.