Pio Esposito Starts for Inter as Lautaro Martinez Misses Ajax Clash

Inter open their Champions League campaign with a bold decision from Cristian Chivu, as 20-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito has been named to lead the line against Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Kick-off is set for 20:00 UK time, with the Nerazzurri beginning their European journey under the spotlight.

The call comes after captain Lautaro Martínez was ruled out with a back injury. The Argentine had been struggling in training and skipped yesterday’s session, leaving Chivu little choice but to sideline him from the start. With no desire to risk a long-term setback for his talisman, the Inter boss has turned to youth — and shown enormous faith in Francesco Pio Esposito.

For the striker, it marks a remarkable step in a year already full of milestones. He only turned 20 in June and has just two senior appearances for Inter under his belt. Yet his stock has been rapidly rising, thanks in part to a standout summer in the FIFA Club World Cup, where he netted once and provided an assist in matches against Urawa Reds and River Plate. Those performances convinced the club to keep him in the first-team fold this season rather than sending him out on loan.

Esposito’s journey is also one written in the family DNA. The youngest of four footballing brothers, he follows a well-trodden path: Sebastiano currently plies his trade at Cagliari, while Salvatore represents Spezia in Serie B. Now it is Pio’s turn to step into the limelight on one of the biggest stages in world football.

The youngster already made his senior Italy debut earlier this month, coming off the bench in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Estonia. His first taste of Serie A action came in late August with a 22-minute cameo during Inter’s defeat to Udinese. Yet nothing compares to the magnitude of a Champions League debut in Amsterdam.

For Inter, the absence of Lautaro is a blow, but it also opens the door for fresh energy in attack. Francesco Pio Esposito will be partnered by Marcus Thuram, whose movement and physical presence could create the perfect foil for the debutant. Chivu’s decision sends a clear message: this Inter side is not afraid to trust its next generation when it matters most.

As the Champions League anthem rings out at the Johan Cruijff Arena, all eyes will be on Francesco Pio Esposito — a 20-year-old with the chance to seize a defining moment in his young career.