Francesco Pio Esposito, a young striker from Inter, recently grabbed headlines by scoring the crucial opening goal in their 2-0 victory over River Plate. This win secured Inter`s spot in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16. Esposito is a product of Inter`s own youth academy, where he developed from age eight until 2023. He even trained under current coach Cristian Chivu during his youth years. After leaving Inter, he spent the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons on loan at Spezia, demonstrating significant potential by scoring 22 goals in 79 appearances. His performance while on loan kept him on Inter`s radar, who always saw him as a future prospect they intended to bring back.
Born in 2005, Esposito is nearing his 20th birthday. His impactful goal against River Plate, in what was effectively a return to the senior squad he grew up dreaming of playing for, suggests his future might be arriving sooner than expected.
Francesco is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom passed through Inter`s youth ranks. His brother Sebastiano previously featured for Inter`s senior team under Antonio Conte (2019-2020) and even appeared in the current FIFA Club World Cup campaign, though he is reportedly set to leave Inter in summer 2025. Another brother, Salvatore, currently plays for Spezia. Francesco`s own future seemed uncertain after his loan return; reports suggested another loan move to a Serie A club for the 2025-26 season to gain more experience and regular minutes. However, his standout performance and goal against River Plate could significantly alter his immediate prospects at Inter.
Cristian Chivu, the former Inter defender and 2010 Champions League winner who recently took over as head coach, has a deep understanding of Esposito`s abilities from coaching him in the youth setup. This familiarity could help Esposito secure a place in the current squad, even as Inter looks to strengthen its attacking options. With Joaquin Correa and Marko Arnautovic having left, and the future of Mehdi Taremi uncertain, Inter likely needs to sign at least one more striker.
The primary striking duo remains captain Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. Reports also suggest Parma forward Ange-Yoan Bonny might join as a backup option, potentially alongside Mehdi Taremi if he stays. In recent seasons, Inter has sometimes lacked reliable attacking depth when either Martinez or Thuram were unavailable. This situation makes Esposito a potentially valuable and perhaps unexpected option to help address that need.
The focus now shifts to whether Esposito can consistently maintain this level of performance under pressure. His display against River Plate was impressive not only for the goal itself, which showcased his talent, but also for his all-around contribution – shielding the ball effectively and working tirelessly for the team until being substituted by his brother Sebastiano in the 83rd minute. While he demonstrated his ability at Spezia, the main question was if he could transition that form to Inter`s first team. Based on his initial appearances, he seems capable. Inter`s management and Coach Chivu face a significant decision: send him out on loan again for further experience, or keep him with the senior squad and see if he can handle the demands of top-level football now? His early performances suggest he appears ready to remain at the club.
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley