Francesco Pio Esposito (Italian pronunciation: [eˈspɔːzito]; born 28 June 2005) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie B club Spezia, on loan from Inter Milan.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 June 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Castellammare di Stabia, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team |
Spezia (on loan from Inter Milan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| –2023 | Inter Milan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | → Spezia (loan) | 48 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Italy U17[1] | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Italy U18[2] | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Italy U19[3] | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Italy U20[4] | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Italy U21[4] | 9 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
editInter Milan
editEsposito is a youth player for Inter Milan. He started his career as an attacking midfielder, then becoming a striker. Esposito was a regular for the Under-19 team of Inter, despite being only 17 at the time, also appearing in the 2022–23 UEFA Youth League.[5][6]
On 9 July 2023, Esposito extended his contract with Inter until 2027.[7][8]
Loan to Spezia
editOn 1 August 2023, he joined Serie B club Spezia on loan.[9] Esposito made his professional debut on 14 August 2023, coming on as a substitute in the round of 64 of the Coppa Italia against Venezia.[10]
On 19 July 2024, Spezia announced the extension of Esposito's loan from Inter for one more year.[11]
International career
editEsposito is a regular player in Italy's youth teams.
Between May and June 2023, he took part in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Italy ended as runners-up, and scored one goal during the tournament and playing also the final.[12] Just a month later, in July, he was part of the Italy squad that won the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, scoring one goal as well.[13]
On 8 September 2023, he made his debut with the Italy U21, in the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 qualifying match against Latvia. On 5 September 2024, he scored four goals in the qualifying match won 7-0 against San Marino.[14]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 25 October 2024[15]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Spezia | 2023–24 | Serie B | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 39 | 3 |
| 2024–25 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 5 | ||
| Total | 48 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 50 | 8 | ||
Personal life
editHe is the younger brother of midfielder Salvatore and striker Sebastiano Esposito.[12]
Honours
editItaly U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2023
Italy U19
References
edit- ^ "Convocazioni e presenze in campo FRANCESCO ESPOSITO" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Convocazioni e presenze in campo FRANCESCO ESPOSITO" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Convocazioni e presenze in campo FRANCESCO ESPOSITO" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Convocazioni e presenze in campo FRANCESCO ESPOSITO" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Esposito: Italia senza bomber? L'Inter aspetta Francesco Pio, il futuro è già scritto" (in Italian). Calciomercato.com. 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Esposito, show con l'Inter Primavera: tripletta al Cagliari. Chi è il nuovo talento nerazzurro" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 15 February 2023.
- ^ "VALENTIN CARBONI AND FRANCESCO PIO ESPOSITO SIGN CONTRACT EXTENSIONS" (Press release). Inter Milan. 9 July 2023.
- ^ "L'Inter trova l'accordo con Francesco Pio Esposito: rinnovo fino al 2027. E lo Spezia l'ha già chiesto in prestito" (in Italian). Internews.it. 29 June 2023.
- ^ "UFFICIALE | FRANCESCO PIO ESPOSITO È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLO SPEZIA". Spezia Calcio (Press release) (in Italian). 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "SPEZIA VS VENEZIA". Lega Serie A. 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Spezia, Pio Esposito è ancora aquilotto. Nuovamente confermato il suo prestito dall'Inter" (in Italian). Tuttomercatoweb. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Tre finali tutte perse: che domenica da incubo per i fratelli Esposito" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 12 June 2023.
- ^ "Dai cugini Dellavalle al boom di Kayode: chi sono gli azzurrini campioni d'Europa" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Italy U21 vs. San Marino U21 7 - 0". Soccerway.com. 5 September 2024.
- ^ Francesco Pio Esposito at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 December 2023.