Remember the name Francesco Pio Esposito, Inter`s latest striking talent. He recently scored the opening goal in Inter`s 2-0 victory over River Plate, securing their place in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16. Esposito came through Inter`s youth academy, joining at age eight and staying until 2023, where he worked under Cristian Chivu. He then spent the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons on loan at Spezia, demonstrating significant potential. His record of 22 goals in 79 appearances over two years kept him firmly on Inter`s radar, who saw him as a potential future star.
Born in 2005, Pio Esposito is nearing his 20th birthday. His goal against River Plate, in his first appearance back with the club he grew up supporting, suggests his potential future could be arriving sooner than expected.
Esposito is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom developed at Inter. While Sebastiano, who also played for Inter previously and is part of the current Club World Cup squad, is anticipated to depart in Summer 2025, and Salvatore is currently at Spezia, Pio`s immediate future remains undecided. Following his return from the Spezia loan, speculation suggested a potential move to a Serie A team for the 2025-26 season to gain consistent playing time. However, his impactful goal against River Plate might significantly alter his short-term path at the club.
Given that Cristian Chivu knows him well (having taken over coaching duties), Pio Esposito might find a place in the current Inter squad. This is particularly relevant as Inter will likely add another striker following the departures of Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic, with Mehdi Taremi`s situation still unclear.
The team`s primary striking options are captain Lautaro Martinez and French forward Marcus Thuram. Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma is reportedly set to join as a potential backup alongside Taremi, if he stays. In recent years, Inter has sometimes lacked strong depth when the main strikers were unavailable, and Pio Esposito could surprisingly fill that void.
The spotlight is now on Esposito. Time will tell if he can consistently perform at the highest level, as he did against River Plate. His performance impressed many, not just for the skillful goal, but also for his ball retention and teamwork throughout the match before being substituted by his brother Sebastiano in the 83rd minute. He showed the talent seen at Spezia, and crucially, demonstrated he can replicate it at Inter. Inter`s management and coach Chivu now face a key decision: should he go out on loan again to gain more experience, or is he ready to face the pressure and compete at the top level now? Based on his initial showings with the club, Esposito appears prepared to stay.
