Liverpool’s decision to sign Giovanni Leoni from Parma has been explained by the Italian club’s chief executive, Federico Cherubini who confirmed that Newcastle had made a higher offer before the defender opted to join the Premier League champions.
The 18-year-old sensation joined the Reds in a £26M plus add-ons transfer from Parma last month in a move that was one of several for The Reds as manager Arne Slot overhauled his Premier League title winning side.
However, Liverpool were not the only ones to table an offer, with Newcastle having also made a move for Leoni which according to Cherubini was a higher offer.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his X handle, Parma CEO Cherubini revealed that they rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni because Giovanni made it clear he was very happy to join Liverpool. The post reads:
Parma CEO Cherubini on Giovanni Leoni: We rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni. But plans have changed with Liverpool.
This because the offer was very attractive and because Giovanni made it clear he was very happy to join #LFC.
Newcastle had to move from one target to the next this summer as they chased down several strikers, who all rejected the club. Leoni is just another name on a long list of players who didn’t want to join manager Eddie Howe despite the side having Champions League football.
Parma took a chance on Leoni last summer after watching him make just 12 appearances in Italy’s second tier and have now been handsomely rewarded for that show of faith.
The Italian is only 18 years old, but comes highly rated from Serie A and could be more involved with the squad at Liverpool being their fourth-choice centre-back behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez.
Leoni’s only matchday selection so far has been as an unused substitute in the 3–2 win over Newcastle, ironically the club that was willing to pay Parma a bigger fee.
