2 months ago
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Hero against River Plate
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SEATTLE -- Francesco Pio Esposito is a player to watch. The Inter Milan striker, who turned 20 today, spent the last two seasons on loan in Serie B at Spezia Calcio. And this season promises to be his big breakout campaign. A tall, imposing striker, Esposito scored 17 goals and two assists in 35 Serie B games and added another two in four promotion playoff games. That form has carried on to the FIFA Club World Cup, where Esposito scored the winner against River Plate in Inter Milan’s 2-0 win in front of 45,135 spectators at Lumen Field.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Esposito said after the game to the waiting press. “When I saw the ball go in the net, it shocked me.” The match was Esposito’s second appearance at the tournament. On matchday 2, Esposito assisted Valentín Carboni’s winner against Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds. That match, too, took place at Seattle’s impressive Lumen Field. Indeed, the late assist for Carboni’s goal saved Inter some blushes against a Japanese side that had the Champions League finalists on the ropes for almost 80 minutes.
“For me, he is a very good young striker,” new signing Petar Sučić said when asked about Esposito. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was more specific. “First of all, I am very happy for him that he scored such an important goal,” Sommer said to Transfermarkt after the River game. “We know that there are young guys with immense quality in our team, especially Pio. He’s a good striker. Physically, very, very strong. For me, as a goalkeeper, it is crucial to know that I can play the long balls to him, and he can hold them. He did well, played with lots of energy, and that’s important, especially as we have some injuries right now.”
Pio Esposito in demand – Playing with Lautaro Martínez “is easy”
After a strong campaign in Serie B, Pio Esposito has been in high demand with many top clubs around Europe and clubs from Italy checking in to see whether Inter Milan were willing to sell the young forward. “It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to play here,” Esposito said at a media event at the Seahawks' training facility the day ahead of the River Plate match. “It is a wonderful tournament, and the boys have done really well integrating me into the squad.” Esposito then added that he wants to use this tournament to increase his profile. That has certainly been working, with one Italian outlet claiming that "half of Serie A" wants the wonderkid.
As of now, Inter Milan will be reluctant to sell their young striker, though. New head coach Cristian Chivu has certainly been impressed by what he has seen from Esposito. Indeed, sources close to the club have stressed to Transfermarkt that for now, Inter Milan will not entertain any offers for their young striker. That, of course, could change if Inter spend big on new signings. After all, Esposito would be an easy-to-cash-in trade chip as the club looks to generate funds on the transfer market. But having watched the player at the Club World Cup, do Inter really need an additional signing up front, given Esposito’s potential?
Indeed, Esposito highlighted that he could be an excellent complementary piece to Argentine star striker Lautaro Martínez—a player whom Esposito admires. “Playing with a top player like him is easy,” Esposito said. “He is always ready to receive the ball and communicates well. He has made it very easy for me to get integrated into the attack.” For Esposito, the remainder of the tournament presents an opportunity to demonstrate that an attack featuring him and Martínez could be the future. His teammates certainly believe in him. “It’s important for him to play with freedom,” Sommer said. What will it take for Esposito to make the next step? Sommer added: “That he maintains his confidence because he has the quality, and that will help us this season.”
