Evaluation of Giovanni Leoni by Those Around Him

This is a journey into the world of Giovanni Leoni. But who exactly is he? Simply put, he is the youngest player to debut in a professional league this season, born on December 21, 2006—essentially born in 2007.

In the 94th minute of the match against AlbinoLeffe, Padova's coach Vincenzo Torrente brought him onto the field. "The ball was moving around, the atmosphere was heated at the end of the game, it must have been an incredible feeling. I spoke with Leoni, and he said he felt an indescribable emotion," shared Mr. X, someone who knows the player well, in an interview.

Born in Rome, Leoni moved to Veneto due to family circumstances, landing in Padova. He has always kept the ball at his feet during his growth, even reportedly from "before he could even walk." He is meticulous enough to pay close attention to his diet, but he is quite shy and prefers to show himself on the field rather than express himself verbally. "It's hard to talk for even 20 minutes; he's quite taciturn (laughs). He probably speaks three words a week. Still, he has a great personality and many friends, and everyone likes him."

Leoni was developed through Padova's youth system, and just three months ago, he joined the first team as his physique matured.

His first dream of turning professional has now been realized, but it is only one of many dreams. "We knew his moment would come," said Mr. X. Indeed, Leoni's moment arrived, and many coaches, managers, and club officials shared the same sentiment.

Among them, one individual who truly placed his faith in the player was Carlo Sabatini, the youth development coordinator at Padova. Sabatini recognized Leoni's talent and sent support, and more than that, he has been the closest figure to the player for the past few years. "Padova wanted to show that the player was growing step by step, renewing contracts at short intervals. He warmed up before the match against Pro Sesto (which was four days before his debut) but didn't play, and at that moment, we thought, 'Leoni's turn will come soon.'"

Patience, trust, and courage are characteristics of both Leoni and those who recognized him. "Padova had to confirm whether Leoni could handle the tempo of the first-team match, and he responded."

Like a true Roman, Leoni is a Roma fan—there's no alternative. However, one of his dreams is not to wear the Giallorossi (the nickname for Roma) jersey. Leoni's ambitions include the Premier League. "Leoni loves the English league and wants to play there someday. He especially admires Virgil van Dijk and wants to be like him. I hope they see him that way (laughs)."

"Leoni's goal is to grow every day in Padova without rushing." Uncommonly, Padova supports the player in every aspect, demonstrated by an anecdote: "Last December, Leoni underwent surgery for sinusitis and was hospitalized for a few days. The interest shown by the club staff was remarkable. Everyone came to visit him, and everyone called him. It was truly amazing."

On the field, Leoni is a player who can lead a defensive line. "Even during his U17 days, Leoni was the leader in a back-three setup." Standing at 193 cm tall with superior physicality, he is also proficient with both feet. For a 16-year-old born in 2006 to have made a professional debut, there has to be a reason. "He wants to continue doing what he does. He is very humble and structured, taking good care of himself."

What does he do in his free time? Leoni reportedly continues to watch football during his leisure time. "He has memorized all the names of Premier League players; he knows them all." Another keyword is academics. He performs well in school, just like on the field. "His school grades are good."

Though shy and somewhat introverted, he has strong convictions. "Once he enters the field, he becomes a completely different person," said those who are close to Leoni and know his journey well. While the future is uncertain, one thing is sure: his path will no longer be a solitary one, and Leoni will undoubtedly remain a topic of conversation for many.

Giovanni Leoni joined Parma at the end of the summer transfer window and made his Serie A debut against Venezia last Saturday. Despite still being a minor, Leoni confidently took to the field and showcased impressive play like a veteran.

Parma acquired Leoni from Serie B club Sampdoria, where he played for the latter half of the previous season. However, his journey began much earlier when he moved to Padova with his parents. Our publication interviewed Carlo Sabatini, the youth development coordinator at Padova who knows Leoni well.

"Leoni is a product of our Padova youth system and is the result of a program we have been conducting for years. We take pride in this and hope he serves as a good role model for other young players. Leoni started playing soccer in Vigonza, moved to Cittadella, and joined Padova shortly after I took over as the youth development coordinator about five years ago."

At Padova, the player faced several challenges and obstacles. "Every player has their unique path. For Leoni, as his physique grew rapidly, he experienced structural problems, which sometimes hindered his ability to perform on the field or kept him from playing altogether."

Nevertheless, an important factor in his continued growth was his character. "He has an excellent work ethic and a mental strength beyond that of an ordinary person. I want to credit this to the player's family. Leoni's family always showed trust in our club and the development plans we put in place for him. We often see young players pressured by those close to them to change teams or reconsider their paths. But his family never did that, always being a strong source of support for him."

Sabatini also discussed Leoni's capabilities as a player. "Leoni has gone through a unique growth process as a player. As I said before, he wasn't always on the pitch. However, once [his rapid growth] stabilized his physique, his strengths began to emerge. He possesses significant physical potential, and personally, I believe he still has more to show."

"At Padova, Leoni learned a lot from coaches like Ottoni, Agostini, and Rossetini. He is a modern center-back capable of adapting to both a back four and back three, fulfilling the tactical and technical demands of modern football. He possesses important technical skills such as key passes, transition passes, and forward passes."

Sabatini shared an anecdote: "At that time, first-team coach Vincenzo Torrente came to watch a youth game and was deeply impressed by Leoni's personality and determination. After that, Leoni played with the U19 team on weekends while continuing training with the first team."

"One day, however, the youth team's coach Rossetini felt Leoni was not focused on the game and benched him. During a private talk with the coach, Leoni understood his decision and expressed gratitude. This reaction showed how mature he is as a person. That incident helped him grow further, and eventually, he was called up by Serie B's Sampdoria."

When asked to compare Leoni to another player, Sabatini replied, "I don't like comparisons. Although Leoni expressed admiration for van Dijk, he doesn't share exactly the same traits. If I had to name someone, he's somewhat more similar to Skriniar."

For Giovanni Leoni, the future is on his side. Andrea Pirlo stated this in an interview with our publication, and another individual who knows Leoni well, Roberto Baronio, former midfielder who played for Lazio and Brescia and assisted Pirlo at Juventus and Sampdoria, offered a similar assessment.

Pirlo praised Leoni in an interview after he made his Serie A debut with Parma. "I am truly happy. We are talking about a great boy. I knew Leoni would play in Serie A; he is a player who deserves it."

Baronio, who spent six months together with Leoni at Sampdoria, praised him for being gentle, diligent, and punctual.

Here is our interview with Baronio: "[Leoni's performance] is truly satisfying. Because he deserves it. He is now worthy of enjoying all the good things happening to him. Let me share an anecdote from Sampdoria that might give you an idea of what kind of person he is."

Q: Please share it with us.

A: It was the day Leoni was transferring to Parma. Like many players, he came to say goodbye to the club staff. He had already said goodbye to his teammates.

As he entered the office, he was shedding tears. He cried like a child mourning his family, despite having only spent six months with us, as if he were part of our family for years.

Leoni shared that he had enjoyed his time with Coach Pirlo and the club staff, and his tears were genuine. It left a strong impression on me. It made me realize what kind of person this boy was before us.

Q: Describe what kind of person he is.

A: We highly regard Leoni's humanity. Growing up in an athlete family seems to have contributed to shaping his character. He is polite, well-mannered, and respectful toward others.

Q: Do you remember your first meeting?

A: He transferred from the Padova youth team to Sampdoria. It was January, and we had a lot of injuries, so we had no players. We trained together for the first time, and from that moment, I felt Leoni would integrate well into the first team. It actually happened.

In his first game at Sampdoria, he came in as a substitute and performed brilliantly. I remember he didn’t feel much pressure. Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Sampdoria's home ground, is fantastic, and the fans are amazing. Playing there as a player definitely builds confidence, and Leoni utilized that well.

Q: What do you think is Leoni's standout ability?

A: He is a smart player. Those with above-average intelligence can go further. Leoni knows how to read the opponent's intentions. This was evident from the beginning of his joining us and can be a strength.

When he encounters attackers who are faster or stronger than him, Leoni cleverly engages in shoulder battles or predicts their movements to 'control' them. He can steal the ball using his toes to take the timing away from the attacker. This is a skill that only seasoned players can master, but Leoni already possesses that kind of cleverness.

Q: What about areas for improvement?

A: I have always told Leoni, 'Your exterior is complete, but now you need to fill what's inside,' emphasizing that 'what matters is what's inside.' He's gradually filling this up. I think Leoni needs to build more strength in his body. This would undoubtedly improve his acceleration in short distances after the first step. As of now, that part is the area for improvement.

However, when Leoni perceives a lack of momentary speed, he cleverly takes the ball from the opponent. I watched him during the match against Juventus, and he often managed to nudge the ball away from players like Vlahovic and Colomuani right at the last moment. Such last-minute touches can sometimes risk giving away a penalty, but Leoni handled it excellently. He is a player equipped with cleverness and a positive cunning, which will contribute to his ongoing development. Additionally, his actions after practice reflect his humility as a player.

Q: What were those actions?

A: It was not an action meant to show off but rather one that genuinely reflected his character. Since the first day he joined the team and trained, Leoni would help pick up cones and balls at the end of every training session. Regardless of the training, he assisted the equipment manager. We often told him, 'Leo, just leave it. Don't worry about it,' but Leoni would reply, 'No, I do this naturally.'

So, it was an action that came from within, greatly influenced by his supportive family. I know what kind of person he is, so I really hope he becomes an outstanding player.

04. Player Interview and Additional Readings

The article mentions that both of Leoni's parents were water polo national team members (currently his father is a banker, and his mother is a physical therapist). There are various claims about whether Leoni is the second or third among five siblings, but looking up the ages of his older brother (2004, a professional water polo goalkeeper) and his adopted brother (2005, a professional basketball player), it seems he is the third. His younger siblings are reported to play paddle tennis and tennis, respectively.

In interviews conducted during his time in Padova in 2023, Leoni mentioned that most of the coaches he met (Ottoni, Rossetini, Torrente) were former defenders and that he received much advice. He believed that his attitude of giving 100% in every training session without arrogance got the attention of the first-team coach, enabling him to train with the first team. During this time, he also mentioned van Dijk and Smalling as role models.

In an interview from 2025 during his time at Parma, he stated that answering questions during the final stage of the interview exam for high school graduation was more challenging than scoring his first Serie A goal. He struggled with dyslexia, making studying difficult, but he always tried his best.

Even though he was born in Rome and is a fan, he has a strong affection for Padova since his family moved there when he was five, following his father, who is a banker. After living in Padova for years, he transferred to Sampdoria in January 2024 and started living independently away from his family, which he felt contributed to his growth both as a player and as a person.

In that same interview, he revealed that after graduating high school, he planned to pursue a major in sports science at university. He believes that studying is important and intends to earn his degree through remote classes.

When asked how it feels to be in the spotlight, he replied that he doesn't mind seeing his face in the newspaper. In fact, it makes him feel good because it shows he's doing well. He also expressed satisfaction with both Parma the club and the city, especially praising the delicious food.