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New Liverpool signing Giovanni Leoni is looking forward to playing alongside his hero, Virgil van Dijk, at Anfield after completing a $35 million (£26 million) transfer at the end of the week.
Leoni arrives as one of the most highly rated young center-backs in the world, and he is keen to learn from Van Dijk. Eventually, the plan might be for the teenager to replace the Dutchman in the starting XI, though there will be no pressure placed on him to play every week immediately.
"I am very happy to meet him, to train with him, and to play with him," Leoni told the Reds' official channels. "I followed him since I was a kid. He's been my role model and I hope to learn lots from him."
"For me, he is the best defender in the world and I want to meet him [as soon as] possible," Leoni had told the club website on Friday. "His personality is fantastic when he plays. He is so comfortable with the ball and without the ball. He is a leader."
Van Dijk penned a new contract at Liverpool that will tie him down until 2027, alongside Mohamed Salah. But by the time that deal comes to an end, Van Dijk will be a few weeks short of turning 36.
It is therefore wise for Liverpool to be looking to the future. Ibrahima Konate is into the final 12 months of his contract too, while Joe Gomez spent a fair chunk of last season out injured, and Jarell Quansah has been sold to Bayer Leverkusen.
"It’s not possible to say no to this club," Leoni said. "I'm so honored. I was very happy. When I saw [the interest from Liverpool], I said, 'Wow, this is crazy'.
"I'm very happy. 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."
Arne Slot met Leoni for the first time this weekend after the player watched Liverpool beat Bournemouth on Friday. The Italian will join his teammates for training this week ahead of the game with Newcastle United at St James' Park in eight days.
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"Very few in Italy have truly grasped how big a talent Leoni is or how much his potential is because of his quick rise in some months," Kaustubh Pandey told Liverpool.com this week.
"He has a very high ceiling. That is so evident from how well he did under pressure at Parma last season under Cristian Chivu when they were under the threat of relegation.
"They relied so much on their backline to get key points, and Leoni was massive — both physically and performance-wise."
Liverpool.com says: Leoni looks really promising. While there was an argument for sending him out on loan this season, working alongside Van Dijk will come with plenty of benefits. He should get minutes at times too.
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