Remember the name Francesco Pio Esposito, Inter`s promising new forward. He recently scored the crucial opening goal in Inter`s 2-0 victory over River Plate, securing their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16. Esposito is an Inter youth academy product, having developed there from age eight until 2023 and previously worked with coach Cristian Chivu. He then spent two seasons (2023-24 and 2024-25) on loan at Spezia, showcasing his potential with 22 goals in 79 appearances. Inter closely monitored his progress, always intending to bring him back, seeing him as a future star.
Born in 2005, Pio Esposito is approaching his 20th birthday. His goal against River Plate, in what was essentially his first significant appearance for the club he grew up with, suggests his time might already be here.
He is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom came through the Inter system. While Sebastiano (who played for Inter 2019-2020 and in the current CWC) is expected to leave in Summer 2025, and Salvatore is currently at Spezia, Pio`s immediate future remains uncertain. After returning from Spezia, there were rumors of another loan move to a Serie A side for the 2025-26 season to gain more consistent playing time. However, his performance and goal against River Plate could significantly alter his short-term prospects at the club.
Coach Chivu has a deep understanding of Esposito`s abilities, having coached him in the youth ranks. With Chivu now managing the senior team, replacing Simone Inzaghi, Pio Esposito could potentially find a place in the current squad. This is despite Inter likely needing to add another number nine after the departures of Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic, with the future of Mehdi Taremi also unclear.
The main striking partnership is currently Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. Parma striker Ange-Yoan Bonny is reportedly a potential backup option, possibly alongside Taremi if he stays. In recent years, Inter has lacked reliable depth when their primary strikers were unavailable. Pio Esposito could unexpectedly fill this void.
The challenge now is consistency under pressure. His performance against River Plate was impressive, not just for the goal but also for his ball retention and work rate throughout the match until he was replaced by his brother Sebastiano in the 83rd minute. He demonstrated the talent shown at Spezia, and the crucial question was if he could replicate it at Inter. So far, he has. The club management and Coach Chivu face a key decision regarding his future: another loan for experience, or integrating him into the first team immediately to test him at the highest level? Based on his initial games, Esposito appears ready to stay.
Dominic Ashworth