Giovanni Leoni: A Potential World-Class Defender Dubbed the ‘New Fabio Cannavaro’

Italy is known as a breeding ground for legendary defenders, and the latest name making waves is Giovanni Leoni. The 18-year-old centre-back has been dubbed the “new Fabio Cannavaro” thanks to his impressive performances with Parma in Serie A last season.

Despite making just 17 appearances in the top flight, Leoni has already shown qualities that have put him on the radar of many top European clubs. Last season, he was coached by Christian Chivu — a Champions League winner — before Chivu left for Inter Milan this summer. Reports suggest Chivu is keen to reunite with Leoni at San Siro next season. However, Inter are not the only interested party, with several Premier League clubs and Barcelona also monitoring his progress.

Who is Giovanni Leoni?

Born in Rome, Leoni began his football journey at the Padova academy before moving to Cittadella at a young age. Standing at 1.96 metres, his towering presence made him stand out early, and he made his professional debut in Serie C with Cittadella just a few months after his 16th birthday in March 2023.

In February 2024, Leoni was loaned to Sampdoria, and his performances convinced the club to sign him permanently for €1.5 million in June 2024. Just two months later, Parma came in with a €4.8 million offer. The decision proved wise — his market value skyrocketed by €13.2 million to €18 million in just one season, making him the third most valuable U21 defender in Serie A.

Aniello Luciano, a Serie A expert from Transfermarkt, considers Leoni the future of Italy’s defence. “Giovanni Leoni is one of the best prospects in Italian football and a potential mainstay for the national team. He is already a top target for leading Italian and European clubs, and his market value keeps rising,” Luciano said.

Leoni’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Leoni possesses an almost complete physical package for a modern centre-back. According to Luciano, his main strengths are athleticism and physical duelling. Despite his height, he is quick in closing down spaces and reading the game. His anticipation and positional awareness are already mature for his age.

However, there are still areas to improve. Under Chivu last season, Parma were not a team that frequently built attacks from the back. Leoni was rarely asked to carry the ball forward or make progressive passes. Luciano notes that to become a world-class defender, he needs to improve his passing accuracy from the back — a crucial skill in modern football.

Clubs Interested

Parma are under no financial pressure to sell Leoni, but the right offer could tempt them. His price tag is estimated at around €40 million, including potential bonuses and a future sell-on clause.

Inter Milan have been one of the strongest candidates. Club vice-president Javier Zanetti has even admitted their interest: “He’s a very interesting young player. We’ll see if it’s possible to bring him in,” said the Nerazzurri legend.

From England, Liverpool and Newcastle United have tracked Leoni throughout last season. Liverpool are looking for a new centre-back as part of their defensive rebuild, while Newcastle need a player with Leoni’s physical and technical profile. In Italy, Juventus and AC Milan are also said to be keen, while Barcelona are keeping a close watch on the young defender’s development.