According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below), Milan and Inter like Leoni for three reasons: he is young, already strong and Italian. These three qualities make him a prized piece on the market, so prized that he has triggered a summer derby between the Milanese clubs.
However, Parma – who paid €4.8m (plus €3.5m in bonuses and a 10% resale) to Sampdoria last summer for Leoni – are standing firm. They are convinced that a further year of experience at the Stadio Tardini could increase his value even further.
But it is equally true that, in the context of an auction, even this summer a bid could arrive that would be difficult to say no to. How much? Certainly more than €20m.
Inter, for their part, have the Cristian Chivu card to play. The Romanian is the coach who made Leoni an immovable starter at Parma, just when the team was playing for safety. A sign of esteem that, naturally, was particularly appreciated by the boy.
Among other things, the Nerazzurri (who also like Mosquera of Valencia) have already had the opportunity to discuss the defender with the Emilian club, just when the two sides were busy on the Chivu front.
In addition, on the Parma-Inter axis there is also the Bonny deal in play, with the striker who is one of the main names to reinforce the attacking department for the Champions League runners-up.
Milan, however, do not feel behind in the race, also because Massimiliano Allegri has already had the opportunity to speak about Leoni with Federico Cherubini, CEO of Parma. Sporting director Igli Tare is convinced of the qualities of the young centre-back.
The Rossoneri see Leoni as the ideal profile to replace Malick Thiaw, who arrived in Milan as a promising youngster and is now sought after above all by Bayer Leverkusen. For the Parma defender, Milan sees the same path, with one important difference.
Being Italian, he can also become a pillar of the team for many years to come. Therefore, not a purchase suggested only by the logic of player trading, but also and above all to give the fans a player who can represent the basis of the Milan of the future.
For this to happen, however, the competition will have to be beaten, Inter above all. Without forgetting that Leoni has also been viewed in the past by other big clubs, including Juventus. A move that could soften Parma is to sign him now but loan him back for another year.
However, this is not a usual modus operandi for Milan in recent years, barring with Yacine Adli. Above all, it would not solve the problems in the defence that have cost the Rossoneri a lot in the recent past. Leoni would be useful right away and both Tare and Allegri know it.
