The two young players are together valued at 50 million euros. Before deciding their future, Chivu wants to evaluate them at Appiano.
Inter fans, particularly those who traveled to the US for the World Cup, are anticipating Pio Esposito`s rise. They see him as a future star who will one day claim his place alongside the likes of Lautaro and Thuram. In Seattle, they also welcomed back Valentin Carboni, another talented player born in 2005, whose recent injury was a setback but who was key to the team`s first World Cup win. Carboni is highly regarded, even drawing comparisons to Lautaro among Argentinian fans. People note, “The kid is back…”. These two talents are the result of years of work in Inter`s youth academy, overseen previously by Roberto Samaden and Dario Baccin, and now successfully continued by Massimo Tarantino. Pio and Vale represent a significant asset for the club, valued at least €50 million combined, a figure potentially underestimated due to recent events. While Esposito`s value is expected to grow once he starts scoring in Serie A, Carboni`s progress was temporarily halted by an ACL injury suffered at Marseille under De Zerbi, costing him eight months of his career.
Future Decisions in August
The decision regarding their future rests with coach Cristian Chivu, who is a paternal figure for both talents. He first met Pio when he was a timid 13-year-old with a knack for scoring, giving him his Primavera debut at a young age in the 2001-02 season. Seeing the Argentinian kid score is also a sweet déjà vu for Cristian: his Scudetto-winning Primavera side in 2021-22 was also propelled by Valentin`s goals, though admittedly, rarely with his right foot. They were once children or just promising youngsters; in the US, Chivu has found two men with broad shoulders, useful well beyond the World Cup. The decision on both players is therefore postponed, at the coach`s request, because Chivu wants to see them in action not only in this protected environment but under the heat of Appiano for the new season`s preparation. In early August, everything will be laid out: any gaps to fill in the squad, the possibility of making them immediate protagonists, or perhaps the necessity of a temporary move elsewhere before returning home. Certainly, Inter will not relinquish control of the two; no permanent sales are on the horizon for now.
The Two Talents` Prospects
For Esposito, valued at around 30 million euros, many clubs have already knocked on Inter`s door, always from high-level teams. Antonio Conte`s desire to buy him was rejected, but loan ideas remain, including from Bologna and Fiorentina. However, Pio is also looking at what happens in other countries, from the drama of Iran to the placid Denmark. Inter has put Taremi on the market after a disappointing season, and both Fenerbahce and Besiktas in Turkey, as well as Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, have inquired. Thus, without the Persian striker, an extra spot will need to be filled in an attack already featuring Lautaro, Thuram, and the soon-to-arrive Bonny. The Nerazzurri will try to recruit Danish player Rasmus Hojlund, a difficult task given Manchester United`s demands. If an agreement isn`t reached, then Pio could get his definitive opportunity among the senior players. Like him, Carboni could also serve the cause, perhaps as a midfielder or support striker if the formation changes. However, Vale requires specific physical reconstruction, perhaps through another tactical loan, to be decided in about a month and a half. This would allow him to regain his previous value; Marseille could have bought him for 35 million, but the injury inevitably almost halved that figure.
