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Former AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini reckons the Rossoneri ought to have challenged Liverpool for the services of Giovanni Leoni this summer.
The Italian has also disclosed that legendary playmaker Andrea Pirlo had previously sung the praises of the teenage center-back. The Reds saw off competition from Newcastle and Serie A team Inter Milan to secure Leoni's signature in August, with sporting director Richard Hughes striking an agreement with Parma's Federico Cherubini to bring the defender to Anfield.
Leoni, who featured 17 times for Parma during the previous campaign, was later selected for Italy's World Cup qualifying squad during the international window, though he has yet to earn his first senior cap for the national team.
Ambrosini believes Milan should have utilized the money generated from Malick Thiaw's sale to Newcastle to pursue Leoni, revealing how the legendary Pirlo had previously outlined to him the 18-year-old's enormous potential.
"Milan are selling Thiaw for €42m, why don't you go and get Leoni?" questioned Ambrosini, who secured four Serie A crowns and two Champions League trophies with Milan, speaking to SampdoriaNews, as reported by Sport Witness.
"Liverpool paid €35m for him. It's true that he would have been an even bigger gamble than (David) Odogu, because you only got him for €10m.
"But he would also be a major signing for the club and the fans – a young, Italian player who showed his qualities. In football, people talk about him. Andrea Pirlo told me that Leoni was a great player on the second day of training at Sampdoria.
"Several people had confirmed to me that he had the qualities he later showed. I would have made a similar argument for a club like Milan."
Leoni might feature for Liverpool when Southampton visit in the Carabao Cup third round later this month.
The 18-year-old remarked upon putting pen to paper with the Reds: "[I joined] because it's one of the best clubs in the world. It's not possible to say no to this club.
"Yes, [it was] easy – because it's one of the best clubs in the world. I didn't say no. The continuous [game time] in the second half of the season, I continued to play and to play games [and] to have more confidence in myself.
"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."
Liverpool resumes Premier League duties on Sunday with a trip to Burnley.
The Reds subsequently launch their Champions League campaign at Anfield against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday before welcoming Everton for the Merseyside derby on Saturday, September 20, and Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, September 23, where Leoni could be given his maiden appearance.
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