Sports

Lautaro Martinez makes Pio Esposito prediction for Italy and Inter

Published

1 hour ago

12 December 2025

NewsAdmin

Francesco Pio Esposito scores for Italy against Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)

Lautaro Martinez is confident that promising Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito will become a ‘pillar’ of the Nerazzurri and the Italy national team: ‘He’s serious and humble.’

Pio Esposito returned to Inter last summer after a two-season loan spell at Serie B side Spezia.

Lautaro: Pio Esposito will ‘become a pillar of Inter and Italy’

MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 06: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

A product of the Inter Academy, Esposito has netted three goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this season and even made his senior Italy debut, netting three times in five games with the Azzurri.

“I know him quite well because he comes from the youth sector,” Lautaro told Gazzetta.

MILAN, ITALY - DECEMBER 03: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Coppa Italia round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) — MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 03: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Coppa Italia round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Venezia FC at San Siro Stadium on December 03, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“He’s a serious and humble lad. Let’s leave him calm, and he’ll become a pillar of Inter and the Italy national team. Bonny also has strength and quality and is helping us.”

During the same interview, Lautaro argued that the Nerazzurri had suffered an “injustice” in their latest Champions League match against Liverpool: “If you lose due to a referee’s mistake, there’s not much you can do,” he said.