In Bologna, where Italy’s Nations League campaign found a second win on Monday night, Pio Esposito again supplied the finishing touch. The 21-year-old Inter forward came on against Turkey and struck the goal that sealed a 3-1 result, lifting the Azzurri into second place in their group and reinforcing his growing place at the centre of Roberto Mancini’s rebuild.
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Esposito has become one of the defining young figures of Italy’s four Nations League outings. Mancini has selected the Napoli-born striker from the start in three of those matches, trusting him as the No. 9 in a side attempting to recover after a long difficult period that included missing each of the last three World Cups.
His two goals in the competition have both come against Turkey. Although he began Monday’s match on the bench, his introduction brought the same direct presence in front of goal, with his late contribution completing Italy’s victory.
Mancini believes Esposito possesses both the appetite and the technical qualities to develop into a major centre-forward for the national team. The coach said the Inter player is exceptionally eager both to score and to play, and suggested that within a couple of years he could become the sort of striker who allows a team to play with composure.
The Italy manager compared that potential role with the work of former Azzurri forwards Christian Vieri and Luca Toni, while making clear that Esposito’s profile is closer to Toni’s than Vieri’s. In Mancini’s view, the youngster’s technical level and overall attributes give him the possibility of becoming a leading attacker.
Esposito, the youngest of the three international Esposito brothers, is also carrying increasing weight in Milan. He scored 10 times for Inter in all competitions last season and has already reached four goals this term when his club and Italy returns are combined.
At Inter, his importance has grown through partnerships alongside Lautaro Martínez, with Marcus Thuram also featuring beside him on occasions. The goals in the Turkish meetings have now given Mancini another reason to see the 21-year-old as a possible focal point for Italy’s next chapter.
