Inter Milan is making sure Pio Esposito isn’t going anywhere. The club is closing in on a long-term contract extension for the 21-year-old striker, who just finished a breakout season that included seven Serie A goals and a spot on Italy’s senior national team.
Esposito turns 21 today, and the timing of the renewal feels deliberate. According to transfer journalist Alfredo Pedulla, speaking on his YouTube channel, Inter is prepared to offer a five-year deal worth between 3.5 and 4 million euros per season, plus a 4 million euro fixed component and bonuses. That’s serious money for a guy who was playing in Serie B two years ago.
The backstory on Napoli and Manchester United’s interest
Pedulla was careful to clarify the timeline of all that outside attention. A lot of people have been talking about English clubs sniffing around Esposito, but that noise is from January 2025. Back then, both Manchester United and Leicester were tracking him hard.
“Pio was watched in every game at Spezia by United,” Pedulla said. United’s scouts were apparently everywhere, logging his every touch in Serie B. Napoli also made a serious run at him last summer. Pedulla says they were ready to put down “incredible figures” for both the transfer fee and wages. But Esposito stayed at Inter, and that decision is paying off now.
His loan at Spezia in 2023-24 was the real turning point. He scored 11 goals in 26 Serie B appearances, and that was enough to convince Inter he was worth a real look in the first team. This past season, he made good on that promise — seven goals in Serie A, a role in Inter’s domestic double, and a call-up to the Azzurri where he scored against Greece in a friendly. Not bad for a 21-year-old in a season where Italy missed the World Cup entirely.
Why this deal matters for Inter’s future
Inter has been aggressive about locking down young talent lately, and Esposito is the centerpiece of that strategy. He’s a physical striker with good hold-up play, and he’s shown he can finish in the top flight. The club sees him as a long-term piece alongside players like Nicolò Barella and Alessandro Bastoni, assuming they stick around too.
For Napoli and Manchester United, this probably closes the door for now. United’s interest was real but old, and Napoli’s summer push fell short. Esposito’s camp clearly values the stability of staying home and growing with a team that just won a double. The new contract should make any future bids significantly more expensive, if Inter even entertains them.
The deal isn’t signed yet, but Pedulla’s details suggest it’s close. Five years, big raises, and a clear role in Inter’s plans. For a kid who turned 21 today, that’s not a bad birthday gift.
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