Inter Milan striker carries the World Cup hopes of Italy at the age of 20

Francesco Pio Esposito will face Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night and then lead the Azzurri forward line in the World Cup playoffs next March

Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito has quickly become the potential saviour of Italian football at the tender age of 20. And the 6’3” prodigy will carry the hopes of the nation on his young shoulders in the World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland – and then maybe Wales – in March. It says a lot about the raw promise of the forward who will face Liverpool on Tuesday night – and the poverty of talent in the Italian game.

Pio Esposito was on loan at La Spezia in Serie B last season before he was given his Inter Milan debut by his former academy coach Christian Chivu at the Club World Cup.

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Pio Esposito scored on his first start against River Plate and has not stopped finding the net since for club and country.

He was called up by Italy for the first time in September and has scored three times in five games, including the opening goal against Norway last month.

The ensuing 1-4 defeat to Erling Haaland ’s side confirmed Italy will face playoffs in March – starting against Northern Ireland – to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.

And Pio Esposito is the player most likely to save Rino Gattuso’s side from more humiliation.

Former Inter Milan striker Alessandro Altobelli, who won the 1982 World Cup, said: “Esposito can become a champion. He has physicality and quality; We have strong young players — we must believe in them. I don’t even want to imagine Italy missing another World Cup.”

But former Italy and Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi warned: “I see that Pio Esposito is a great prospect, I’m not blind, but let’s see him grow without raising too many expectations. We would only harm him.”

Pio Esposito, who netted his first Champions League goal against Union St Gilloise in October, last week won Tuttosport’s prestigious Best Italian Golden Boy award for the best Italy U21 player of the year.

“It has all happened so quickly,” he said. “Just four months ago I was playing in Serie B with Spezia, then the Club World Cup happened, Inter and Italy. So I need to keep my feet on the ground, maintain my balance, remember where I started from in case there’s a spell where I don’t score goals, but also never stop trying to be stronger.”

He was born in Castellammare di Stabia – the same town outside Naples as Man City keeper Gigi Donnarumma – but joined Inter Milan as a youth player where he worked under Chivu. The Romanian replaced Simone Inzhagi as head coach in June after the 0-5 Champions League humiliation against PSG.

“We have a beautiful relationship because we grew up together, each in his role,” said Pio Esposito. “I was in the U14 in his first year as coach, then we found ourselves together in the Primavera and finally in the first squad. We grew up together, and that bound us.”

Chivu’s Inter Milan have started this season well. They sit fourth in the Champions League table after starting with four wins and second in Serie A after the 4-0 win at Como where the Romanian wildly celebrated the final goal.

“I don’t remember what I did, I’m just the usual idiot, it’s fine,” said the former Ajax, Roma and Inter Milan defender. “I try to give my best with passion and enthusiasm, passing that on to the lads. They know what it means to be an Interista and part of this club.”

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