Giovanni Leoni Has Reportedly Been DROPPED For WCQ Against Estonia

With the Italy vs Estonia clash just hours away, reports indicate that Giovanni Leoni will not be included in the squad for the crucial WCQ. 

New head coach Gennaro Gattuso will make his managerial debut for the Azzurri in Bergamo on September 5. The 2006 World Cup winner replaced Luciano Spalletti in June.

Gattuso is tasked with qualifying for the 2026 finals. Something of which the Italians haven’t achieved since the 2014 spectacle in Brazil.

Has Giovanni Leoni Been Dropped For The Estonia Game?

After Giovanni Leoni admitted he was ‘truly happy’ to receive his first Italy call-up, the 18-year-old defender has been brought back down to earth.

According to TMW, Leoni is one of four players who won’t make the matchday squad against Estonia. The others are fellow newbie Giovanni Fabbian, Marco Carnesecchi and Daniel Maldini.

If the reports are confirmed, it will be a huge blow to the former Parma defender. It’s been a hectic few weeks for the new Liverpool player.

In mid-August, Leoni completed his move to the English Premier League champions. However, he is yet to debut and he may have to wait until Monday to get his chance with the national side.

How Much Did Liverpool Pay For Giovanni Leoni?

Liverpool splashed the cash this summer but one of their shrewdest buys is surely that of Giovanni Leoni. The centre-back cost an initial €30million.

Parma CEO Federico Cherubini admitted that the Crusaders rejected a higher bid from Newcastle. Purely because Leoni was keen to move to Anfield as opposed to St James’ Park.

Dubbed the ‘new Cannavaro,’ Leoni is widely tipped to become the long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. From Italy’s perspective, he is expected to flourish with the national side over the next 10-15 years.

However, it appears he will need to earn valuable minutes with his club before he can start impressing for his country. Something of which is surely a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if.’

Leoni Style Of Play

Many supporters would have been delighted to see Giovanni Leoni make his international debut on Friday. Nonetheless, fans will have to wait until at least September 8 to potentially see him strut his stuff in the national shirt.

His attributes make him one of the most exciting players on the planet. Aged 18, Leoni already demonstrates a maturity beyond his years.

Standing at 6ft 5in, the Italian is a physically imposing centre-back who is strong in the tackle and has excellent aerial ability. Furthermore, his reading of the game is second to none and he rarely loses a duel.

Composed in possession, Leoni is able to play out comfortably from the back and has a keen eye for a pass to help build up an attacking phase of play.

Although he still has plenty to learn and improve upon, Leoni is very much on the right trajectory to succeed for both club and country. Even if he has to bide his time.