The young Inter forward made a significant impression in his Champions League debut, delivering a comprehensive performance and even sharing a memorable post-match phone call with his brother Sebastiano.
Pio Esposito has debunked the notion that a striker must score to be among the best on the field. His exceptional debut was defined by the details: numerous link-ups, many duels won, crucial passes, and an important defensive recovery. He demonstrated that, at times, the best offense is defense. Around the 20th minute, Esposito made a rare mispass to Thuram but immediately redeemed himself by winning back the ball with a determined slide tackle, correcting his error in an instant.
A Lion on the Field: Running and Assists
Despite not scoring, he created chances for Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. He finished the game without a shot on target but initiated several attacking moves and won many fouls in midfield. Furthermore, he covered more ground than any of his teammates, running an impressive 11.679 kilometers. In comparison, Hakan Calhanoglu covered 11.283 km, and Alessandro Bastoni 10.762 km. Only Davy Klaassen, among the less impactful players, covered more distance, highlighting the intensity of Esposito`s effort. Federico Dimarco rated his performance 7.5, Marcus Thuram praised him repeatedly, and Cristian Chivu, the coach who had promoted him through the youth ranks, stated that “someone like him deserves to be in this team.” Fans are ecstatic about his potential.
The Banter with Sebastiano
After the match, Pio also received congratulations from his brother Sebastiano Esposito, who called him live on Prime Video. “I got goosebumps, he played a great game. But now he has to score. Otherwise, I`ll run away with all the goals I`ve scored…” joked Sebastiano, also reminding Pio of his personal record: “Do you know who is Inter`s youngest Champions League debutant? Well, that`s me…” Sebastiano debuted on October 23, 2019, against Borussia Dortmund, at 17 years, 3 months, and 21 days old. Pio, on the other hand, was the third youngest starting debutant after Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon. He bravely challenged Ajax`s defenders Itakura and Baas, proving his usefulness even without finding the net. After scoring against River Plate in the Club World Cup, he provided two assists to Thuram and Dumfries in Amsterdam. Now, following Sebastiano`s advice, only a goal is missing.
