Lautaro Martinez Makes Major Pio Esposito Claim As Inter Go Top Of Serie A
Esposito has enjoyed a wonderful breakthrough season.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 29 December 2025
Inter star Lautaro Martinez has made a bold claim about Pio Esposito’s future for club and country after the Italian helped the Serie A leaders win at Atalanta on Sunday.
Lautaro Martinez says Inter teammate Pio Esposito is ‘so important’ for the future of Italian football
Martinez scored the winner in Bergamo after Esposito intercepted a loose pass and squared for a simple finish from close range.
It was the Inter captain’s fourth Serie A goal in four games, as Inter ended the year top of the table.
Meanwhile, Esposito was making his 20th appearance of the season for the Nerazzurri as he played a key role off the bench.
The 20-year-old came on in the 64th minute and, within a few moments, had set Martinez up for the winner.
With Ange-Yoan Bonny out injured, Esposito’s contribution was especially important for Inter.
Martinez joked after the game that he must “raise the level” to keep his place. This is because “lads like Esposito” are pushing from behind.
Pio Esposito’s assist 🔥
Lautaro Martínez’s goal 🐂A lethal link-up gave Inter the win! 😤#AtalantaInter pic.twitter.com/AULQCPTjjQ
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 29, 2025
He said: “I ended last season in a lot of pain with my flexor, I got badly hurt ahead of a very important game.
“I kept going even during the Club World Cup and international duty.
“I had a very short vacation, but we must keep going and trying to do better.
“With lads like Esposito behind me, I need to raise the level to keep my place!”
The Argentine also suggested Esposito has the talent to become a major figure for the Italy national team.
“I talk about Esposito all the time, he works hard, is eager to learn,” Martinez continued.
“We all made mistakes when we were his age, so we need to give him the opportunity to do the same without pressure.
“Especially as he is Italian, and so important for the future of Italian football.”
Why Esposito could to right to the top
Esposito has gone from strength to strength at Inter following his fruitful two-season loan at Spezia.
The 20-year-old made 79 appearances for the Serie B side, registering 22 goals and three assists.
Esposito’s profile is that of a classic No.9. He is 6ft 3in, strong in the air, good with his back to goal, and sharp with his movement in the box.
He is a modern centre-forward who can link play, hold up under pressure, and arrive on the end of chances.
“Pio is fundamental, just like Bonny,” Cristian Chivu recently said.
“You already know the value of Lautaro and Thuram. Pio and Bonny are players who make themselves loved by the group.”
Esposito has also exploded onto the international scene, scoring three goals from his first five Italy caps.
It’ll be exciting to see how Esposito develops over the coming years. If he’s this good at 20, the sky really is the limit for him.
Elsewhere, Inter could have a big 2026 on the transfer front, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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