InterviewGiovanni Leoni Q&A: 'Easy' Liverpool decision, Van Dijk admiration and a new journey

The 18-year-old centre-back has completed a permanent transfer to Arne Slot’s Reds from Parma, with whom he delivered a breakthrough season in Serie A last term.

After passing a medical and exploring his new surroundings at the AXA Training Centre, the club’s new No.15 sat down for his first official LFC interview.

He described his overriding emotions, explained why it was a simple decision to make the move to Merseyside, detailed his admiration for Virgil van Dijk and looked to the future.

See the Q&A in full below…

Giovanni, huge congratulations. How does it feel to be here at Liverpool?

Thank you so much. I’m very happy to be here. It’s a really great sensation and I’m honoured to be here.

What has it been like looking around the AXA Training Centre today, your new home?

It’s a fantastic training centre. I haven’t met my teammates [yet] but maybe tomorrow. But it’s a crazy centre, top. It’s good.

It must be a proud day for your family to be here at Liverpool…

Yeah, they are so proud. And I’m very happy today.

How did it feel for you to learn about Liverpool’s interest in you this summer? Was it exciting for you?

Yeah, a lot. I’m so honoured. I was very happy. When I saw this I said, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ I’m very happy.

And was it an easy decision to make to come here?

Yes, easy – because it’s one of the best clubs in the world. I didn’t say no!

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Give us an insight into what you learned at Parma last year in Serie A. How did that help your development?

The continuous [game time] in the second half of the season, I continued to play and to play games. To have more confidence in myself.

I imagine at such a young age it would have been easier to stay in Italy, so why was it the right decision now for you to come to Liverpool?

Only because it’s one of the best clubs in the world. It’s not possible to say no to this club.

Was the prospect of challenging yourself in the Premier League a big pull for you to come here?

I want to improve a lot with my new teammates in training and after on the pitch, in the Premier League and the Champions League.

How would you describe yourself as a player?

An intelligent player, smart, and a technical player.

When you were a bit younger you idolised Virgil van Dijk, our club captain. How excited are you to play and train alongside him?

A lot. For me, he is the best defender in the world and I want to meet him [as soon as] possible. His personality is fantastic when he plays, he is so comfortable with the ball and without the ball. He is a leader.

The Premier League begins this weekend. I guess over the next few weeks for you it will be about getting up to speed and settled in to the new environment…

Yeah, I’ll watch the game [against AFC Bournemouth] in the stadium, see the game and then after the game it’s a new journey.

How excited are you to visit Anfield and feel the atmosphere?

I watched Anfield only on TV. I want to watch the [Bournemouth] game in this fantastic stadium.

And I think you bumped into head coach Arne Slot earlier, how was that first meeting?

Good. [It was] so good. I met him before and I was very happy to meet him.

You already have a fellow Italian here in Federico Chiesa. Are you excited to meet him, will that help you settle in?

They say he is a good guy and I want to meet him.

And I read that you have a nickname, which is ‘leoncino’ – where did that come from? I think in English it translates to ‘the little lion’...

Yes, it’s the little lion! My first coach, he called me like this and now again he called me leoncino every time.

And hopefully Liverpool fans can keep that going...

Yes! If they want to, of course.