Remember the name Francesco Pio Esposito. This young striker from Inter recently made headlines by scoring the crucial opening goal in Inter`s 2-0 victory over River Plate, securing their place in the FIFA Club World Cup`s round of 16 on Wednesday. Esposito is a product of Inter`s own youth academy, where he trained from the age of eight until 2023. He had already worked under the guidance of Cristian Chivu, now Inter`s coach. Following his time in the academy, he was loaned to Spezia for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. There, he demonstrated significant potential, netting 22 goals in 79 appearances over two years. This impressive performance kept him firmly on Inter`s radar, who saw him as a potential future star and planned for his eventual return.
Born in 2005, Pio Esposito is nearing his 20th birthday. His impactful goal against River Plate, scored in what was essentially his first significant appearance back with his boyhood club, suggests that his future at the top level might not be far away – perhaps even now.
Pio is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom have connections to Inter`s youth system. His brother Sebastiano also played for Inter`s first team (2019-20 under Antonio Conte) and is part of the current Club World Cup squad, although he is reportedly set to depart the club in the summer of 2025. Salvatore, another brother, is currently playing for Spezia. Pio`s own immediate future remains less clear. Following his return from the Spezia loan, reports suggested he might be loaned out again to a Serie A club for the 2025-26 season to gain more consistent playing time. However, his memorable goal against River Plate could significantly alter the trajectory of his short-term prospects at Inter.
Cristian Chivu, the coach who replaced Simone Inzaghi and a former Champions League winner, knows Pio Esposito particularly well from his time in the youth setup. Under Chivu, there`s a possibility for Pio Esposito to carve out a place in the current Inter squad. This is despite the expectation that Inter will likely sign at least one more forward following the exits of Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic, and with the status of Mehdi Taremi currently uncertain.
Inter`s primary striking options are team captain Lautaro Martinez and French international Marcus Thuram. Reports suggest that Ange-Yoan Bonny, currently at Parma, is a target to join Inter as a backup forward, potentially alongside Taremi should he remain at the club. In recent seasons, Inter has sometimes struggled for depth when either Martinez or Thuram was unavailable. Francesco Pio Esposito`s emergence could provide an unanticipated solution to this problem.
The challenge now for Pio Esposito will be to consistently perform at the highest level, mirroring the standard he set against River Plate. He impressed many during that match, not just with his clinical finish, but also with his effective ball retention and overall contribution to the team`s effort throughout the game, until being substituted by his brother Sebastiano in the 83rd minute. While his talent was evident during his loan at Spezia, the key question was whether he could translate that form to the demands of playing for Inter. So far, he has answered that question affirmatively. Inter`s management and Coach Chivu now face a crucial decision regarding his future: should he gain further experience elsewhere on loan, or is he already prepared to handle the pressure of competing at the top level with Inter? Based on his initial appearances for the club, Esposito appears ready to remain with the first team.
