Giovanni Leoni So Far Ahead of the Curve He Bends Light; and Guéhi's Qualities
Liverpool's summer revolution keeps revolutioning
Analysing Two Very Different But Excellent Centre-Backs
Liverpool are about to sign divine Giovani Leoni, with a deal for Marc Guéhi also at an advanced-talks stage. In this double article, published as one piece as the topic is so similar (new centre-backs) I examine the qualities of both players.
Giovanni Leoni So Far Ahead of the Curve He Bends Light
Some young players are just on another level. There are lots of good and very good young players; but only a few who are streets ahead.
While I will continue to warn anyone that injuries are a greater risk until the age of 21 or 22 due to growing bodies, and younger players need careful managing as the game gets faster and more frenetic, you still need to develop, and buy, elite young talent.
They may be ready to play, but they are rarely ready for full seasons.
Giovanni Leoni is not a normal 18-year-old, just as Rio Ngumoha is not a normal 16-year-old; as was true of Florian Wirtz six years ago.
To be that far ahead of the rest at a tender age (with 18 especially young for a starting centre-back in a major league), is a marker of future brilliance; but only if the attitude remains elite, the work continues as hard as ever, and the body holds up to the strain.
In two parts, I look first at Leoni, then a more in-depth look at Marc Guéhi, who seems set to follow him to Liverpool, but with observations that apply to Leoni too.
I thought I’d run these two separate articles as one, as they’re linked in several ways. These articles, as with all commenting, are for paying TTT Main Hub subscribers only.