News Focus
- Esposito highlights special bond with coach Chivu dating back to U14 youth days
- Young striker won Serie A title in debut season with six league goals and four assists
- Italy international praises captain Lautaro Martinez as key inspiration for squad
- 20-year-old recalls “movie-like” experience during Club World Cup debut in America
Pio Esposito has opened up about his remarkable first full season with Inter Milan. The 20-year-old forward has become a key figure for the Nerazzurri after helping the club win the Serie A title.
The Italy international found the net six times and provided four assists in 33 league matches. Across all competitions, he has contributed to 15 goals in 46 appearances.
Esposito credits head coach Cristian Chivu for his rapid progress. The pair first worked together when Esposito was just 14 years old.
“I have known him since my time with the U14s,” Esposito explained. “It was his first year as a coach. He played me straight away. We built a strong connection immediately.”
The striker revealed that Chivu trusted him with the captain’s armband in the Primavera side. This happened even though Esposito was younger than most teammates.
“He gave me the band against Cagliari. I scored three goals that day,” Esposito recalled. “We kept in touch over the years. It feels like fate that we are together again now. He has shown me total faith from the start.”
Esposito made his senior debut less than 12 months ago. He travelled with the squad to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June 2025.
“I felt like I was in a film,” he said. “I stayed in the hotel with the team. I trained alongside heroes I used to watch on television every weekend.”
The young striker also praised club captain Lautaro Martinez. Esposito recently played alongside the Argentine during a comeback win against Pisa. Inter trailed by two goals but won the match.
“Lautaro’s statistics tell the whole story,” Esposito stated. “He never accepts less than 100 per cent in training. That attitude pushes us all to improve. He proved his quality straight away after returning from injury against Roma.”