Inter Milan’s Esposito brothers take centre stage

• Francesco Pio Esposito made his first-team debut for Inter in their Club World Cup win over Urawa
• He took to the pitch replacing his older brother Sebastiano
• Head coach Cristian Chivu trained him in the youth ranks and has now placed faith in him at senior level

A photo would have been perfect. The kind you’d hang on your wall or give to your parents as a present. Whilst he may not have a snapshot of the half-time handover with his brother, for Francesco Pio Esposito, FC Internazionale Milano’s FIFA Club World Cup™ win over Urawa Red Diamonds was unforgettable. Not only was it a first-team debut for the 20-year-old, but he provided the assist that led to Valentin Carboni’s late winner. And even better, he did it all alongside his older brother Sebastiano. He couldn’t have asked for much more.

“Eleven years ago, I pulled on this legendary shirt for the first time and now I’m proud to wear it with the senior team. It’s a dream come true.”

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Having missed the opening match against CF Monterrey through injury, the youngest Esposito started on the bench. Head coach Cristian Chivu turned to him after the break, hoping his presence up front could help shift the momentum in a tough battle with an inspired Urawa side. And so, the much-anticipated handover finally happened: Sebastiano off, Francesco Pio on. It was a special moment for a family that had dreamt of this day for years.

The duo’s older brother, Salvatore, himself a midfielder and team-mate of Francesco Pio at Spezia until a few weeks ago, couldn’t hide his excitement at the occasion. “We’re incredibly proud today,” he said before the match. “Sebastiano has great technical ability, and Francesco Pio has come on leaps and bounds over the past two years. He had an amazing season in Serie B last year.”

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All three Esposito brothers came through Inter’s youth ranks, but only the two forwards remain part of the Nerazzurri. Both can now say proudly that they’ve played together for one of the most iconic teams at the Club World Cup. Seattle will hold particularly special memories for Francesco Pio, making his senior debut under new head coach Cristian Chivu.

Inter’s new head coach, who replaced Simone Inzaghi shortly before the tournament, knows Francesco Pio Esposito well and has high hopes for him, having coached him in the Nerazzurri Primavera setup, where he was the team’s captain. “I’ve known him since he was 13,” he said after the win over Urawa. “It was a privilege to coach him as a kid, and now I see a player that’s grown, fully focused, and fully switched on.”

That growth was clear in the numbers posted by the youngest Esposito brother during his last season in Serie B with Spezia. He finished as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals from 39 appearances and played a leading role in taking the Bianconeri to the brink of promotion. Francesco Pio will now look to make a similar impact in Serie A.