[3] He was promoted to the main squad in January of the following year, he made his senior debut on 20 February 2011, coming on as a late substitute for Fábio Rochemback and scoring the last in a 5–0 home routing of Ypiranga.
[4] Leandro signed a five-year deal with Tricolor immediately after his 18th birthday,[5] and made his Série A debut on 22 May, starting in a 1–2 home loss against Corinthians.
[6] On 3 August he scored his first top flight goal, netting the first in a 2–2 draw against Atlético Mineiro also at the Estádio Olímpico Monumental.
[7] On 14 February 2013 Leandro signed a one-year loan deal with Palmeiras, along with Vilson and Léo Gago and with Hernán Barcos moving in the opposite way.
On 2 April 2013, Leandro was called up by Felipão for the main squad to play a friendly against Bolivia;[12] he made his full international debut four days later, replacing Ronaldinho Gaúcho and scoring the last in a 4–0 away win.