dall'aria sofferta

[phillyitalianstudent]

What is the meaning here? (It regards Giulio Andreotti becoming the president of FUCI in 1940.)

CONTEXT:

In largo Cavalleggeri, dopo il giovane professore dall'aria sofferta, additato da tutti come un intellettuale di sicuro avvenire, la FUCI si ritrovò quel "leopardiano slavato", nomignolo cattivo sussurrato alle sue spalle dai molti che non lo guidicavano per nulla simpatico.

ATTEMPTED TRANSLATION:

In largo Cavalleggeri, the young professor, after he suffered from the air, was pointed out by everyone as an intellectual with a secure future, [and] FUCI found for itself that "leopardiano slavato", the pejorative nickname whispered behind his back by many who did not judge him sympathetically.

I would be grateful for any advice or suggestions on how to understand this passage better! Thank you.

 

[CPA]

In largo Cavalleggeri, after the young anguished-looking professor whom everyone pointed to as an intellectual with a certain future, FUCI found itself with that "leopardiano slavato", the pejorative nickname whispered behind his back by many who thought him in no way likeable.

 

[phillyitalianstudent]

In largo Cavalleggeri, after the young anguished-looking professor whom everyone pointed to as an intellectual with a certain future, FUCI found itself with that "leopardiano slavato", the pejorative nickname whispered behind his back by many who thought him in no way likeable.

Excellent translation, CPA. Thank you! Any idea what the author means by "leopardiano slavato"?

 

[CPA]

I assume the reference is to the poet Giacomo Leopardi, but "a wishy-washy Leopardian" doesn't make much sense. Was the nickname used for Andreotti?