Inter Milan Rising Star Expresses His Gratitude To New Head Coach: “Will Never Stop Thanking Him” | OneFootball

Francesco Pio Esposito insists he cannot thank Cristian Chivu enough for helping him launch his career at Inter Milan.

Speaking to InterTV via FCInterNews, the 20-year-old thanked the Inter boss for helping him grow both on and off the pitch.

More importantly, Cristian Chivu has recognized his talent and urged Inter not to consider offers for him in the summer.

Despite receiving a substantial €40 million bid from Napoli, the San Siro giants listened to their manager.

Indeed, Inter turned down Napoli’s approach, granting Chivu an opportunity to work with Esposito again.

The Romanian coached the prodigious striker in the youth ranks.

However, this is their chance to reunite at the senior level, with Esposito keen to repay Chivu’s trust.

Following a scintillating season at Spezia, the Italian center-forward is ready to shine in Serie A.

Inter Milan Starlet Francesco Pio Esposito Grateful to Cristian Chivu

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 25: Francesco Esposito #94 of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Lautaro Martinez #10 during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between FC Internazionale Milano and CA River Plate at Lumen Field on June 25, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Esposito still remembers the day he joined Inter from Brescia as a kid.

“I joined Inter at the age of nine,” he reminisced. “Indeed, I remember very well the goal I scored against Torino in a semifinal at Comacchio.

“I had a coach, Davide Aggio, who passed on to me the principles and values of Inter.

“He made sure to tell us that ‘when you are at Inter, you are in the elite.’

“This sentence stuck with me. He passed on to us the winning mentality that you need to have at this club.”

Then, he met Chivu at the U19 level.

“After six months in which we were not doing very well, some things changed,” Esposito continued.

“The coach gave me the responsibility of the captain’s armband. It happened in Cagliari in a match where the captain was missing.

“In that match, I scored a hat-trick, and from there I wore it until the end of the season.

“It is a responsibility that helped me grow a lot; I will never stop thanking the coach who gave me so much.”

Superb Season in Serie B & Return to San Siro

LA SPEZIA, ITALY – JUNE 1: Francesco Pio Esposito of Spezia Calcio in action against Tommaso Barbieri of US Cremonese during the Serie B match between Spezia Calcio and US Cremonese Serie B Play-off Final at Stadio Alberto Picco on June 1, 2025 in La Spezia, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Esposito was the second-best scorer in Serie B last term, but it wasn’t enough for Spezia to secure promotion.

“It was my first personal recognition,” he added. “It was a very important emotion.

“The two years at La Spezia were unforgettable, fundamental for my growth.

“There were many first times, so I want to thank coach D’Angelo, who was very important to me, as well as all my teammates and all the people at the club.

“They allowed me to take off and fulfill the dream of wearing the Inter shirt again.”

Therefore, he returned to San Siro immediately at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Moreover, he scored against River Plate at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, showing Chivu was right to trust him.

“I scored my first goal with the first team,” Esposito stated. “And I still find it hard to realize it.

“Sometimes I think back to that moment; it was a very strong emotion. If you notice, after the goal there is a moment in which I am disoriented.

“This shows how strong the emotion was. Wearing this shirt again is a dream come true.”

Meanwhile, he explained his trademark celebration.

“It was born with a teammate at Spezia, Petko Hristov,” Esposito claimed.

“From Inter Primavera to Spezia, I had a very important physical transformation.

“He was the teammate I stayed with in the gym after training.

“It all started as a joke; the first time I did it was in Spezia-Venezia, and then I kept it as my celebration because I liked it.”

Number Choice & National Team

BOLZEN, ITALY – OCTOBER 17: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy during the UEFA U21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy and Norway at Stadio Druso on October 17, 2023 in Bolzen, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Esposito chose the number 94 when he returned from his loan spell.

Asked why that number specifically, he replied: “My neighborhood is called ‘Ciceron 94.’

“I wanted to dedicate it to my neighborhood and the pitch where my brothers and I grew up.

It is the place where everything started.”

He also outlined his dream of wearing the Italy jersey.

“It is the dream of every child who starts playing with a ball to wear the shirt of their favorite team and the national team.

“It is a dream I want to realize and touch with my own hands.”

In the meantime, he reminisced about his past.

“Castellammare di Stabia is a city to which I am very attached; I will never forget my origins,” Esposito admitted.

“I lived there until I was six, then I moved to Brescia with my whole family to chase the football dream together with my brothers.

“And I go back there as soon as I can during the holidays.”

Finally, he explained his and his brothers’ passion for the game.

“We had just arrived, we wanted to live this dream with the passion that unites us and that our father passed on to us.

“Our only thought since we were children has always been the ball; now we are lucky and privileged to have reached the point of playing this dream.

“I have a wonderful relationship with both my brothers.

“With Salvatore, I played two years at La Spezia, so naturally, there were some more arguments.

“With Seba, I always talk about how the football season is going. We push each other to improve.”