Parma s 18-year-old new star Leoni rises, six giants start crazy "hunting mode"

This season, a hot young central defender emerged from the Serie A stadium - Giovanni Leoni from Parma. At the age of 18, he quickly became the focus of the six major giants including Barcelona, ​​Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan, with his 17 highlights in the league in the second half of the season. In this upcoming summer transfer window, Leoni's future belonging is full of uncertainty.

Leoni was born on December 21, 2006 and is 1.93 meters tall and has excellent physical conditions. In terms of technical characteristics, he showed maturity far beyond his age. In this Serie A game, facing world-class forwards such as Lukaku and Lautaro, Leoni's one-on-one defense success rate is as high as 71%. He has an excellent sense of position and accurate predictions. He can often block the opponent's offensive line in advance and complete key steals and clearances.

In Parma's 1-0 upset victory over Juventus in April, Leoni stared at Vlahovic, who was worth 70 million euros, successfully restricting the Serbian striker, so that he did not shoot directly in the game. This performance made the big scouts even more dazzling. Not only that, Leoni's position selection and timing of foot play are accurate when defending, and he can contribute 0.88 steals, 1 interception and 3.50 clearances per game, which is an important barrier on Parma's defense line.

Judging from the overall performance this season, Leoni played 16 games in the league for Parma, including 13 starts and 1 goal. He gradually grew from a newcomer who first entered the Serie A stadium to an indispensable member of the team's defense line. Its steady performance helped Parma maintain its defensive intensity in some key games and earn valuable points for the team.

With Leoni's reputation rising, rumors about him have become popular. According to Italian football reporter Nicolo Skira, Juventus and Inter Milan have developed a strong interest in Leoni early on. Juventus has always focused on exploring young and potential players, and Leoni's style and potential meet their signing standards. After Inter Milan failed to return in the Champions League, the team's aging defense line problem has become prominent. If you want to make a breakthrough in various fronts in the new season, the update of the defense is imminent, and Leoni is undoubtedly an attractive choice.

In the Premier League, Manchester United and Arsenal also joined the competition. Manchester United is currently facing changes in defense personnel. Evans and Lindelof may leave the team after their contract expires. Martinez is expected to return from injury next year, and DeLigt and Luke Shaw are suffering from injuries again. Signing Leoni is not only in line with the youth policy implemented by INEOS Group after taking over, but also can supplement the team's defense strength. And Arsenal is actively looking for a replacement after missing Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. According to Football Transfers, the Gunners have seen Leoni as a potential target and are ahead of Manchester United in the competition. Arsenal's financial advantage may give them a good position in this competition.

La Liga doubles Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are also eyeing Leoni. Barcelona is looking at the team's future defense line construction and is always looking for young defenders with potential. Atletico Madrid has always been good at exploring and cultivating young players, and Leoni's strength and potential will naturally not escape their gaze.

However, in the face of the vast transfer rumors in the outside world, Leoni himself was very calm. In an interview last month, he said: "I am very happy in Parma and I want to stay here and continue to grow." Parma is not in a hurry either, and Leoni signed a contract with the team in 2029. The director of sports at Parma also made it clear that if there is no satisfactory offer, it will not be released easily. It is reported that the offer is less than 20 million euros, and will not be considered.

Although Leoni himself tends to stay in the team, the transfer market is changing in the world of football. For a team like Parma, a generous transfer fee may help the team sign and strengthen in other positions. For Leoni, joining a wealthy club also means getting more opportunities to exercise in top events. This summer, where will the future of this 18-year-old talented central defender go, and how fierce competition will be between major clubs, is undoubtedly one of the most worthy topics in the football transfer market.