Di Natale makes Esposito prediction for Italy and Inter: ‘Destined for the top’

Antonio Di Natale has no doubts regarding the potential of Inter and Italy striker Francesco Pio Esposito, who he thinks ‘will be an important player in Italian football for the next 10 to 15 years’.

Esposito has emerged as Italy’s emerging star this international break, scoring his first goal for the national team in just his second substitute appearance in the 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Estonia on Saturday evening.

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The 20-year-old scored 17 goals for Spezia in Serie B last season, before returning to Inter over the summer and earning a spot in Cristian Chivu’s first-team squad alongside Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram and Ange-Yoan Bonny.

What Di Natale said about Italy star Esposito

Francesco Pio Esposito celebrates his first senior Italy goal against Estonia (@azzurri)

Di Natale, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, explained why he thinks that Esposito is destined for the very top.

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“I first met his brother Sebastiano when I went to watch Bianconeri training: I saw Pio last year and it became immediately obvious that he was gifted with remarkable technical qualities,” Di Natale said (via TMW).

“Because of that, I wasn’t surprised by the number of goals he scored in Serie B, or the one against Estonia on Saturday.”

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of Internazionale warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and US Sassuolo Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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Di Natalte believes that Esposito’s mindset is just as important as his qualities on the pitch.

“He’ll be an important player in Italian football for the next 10 to 15 years. He’s destined for the top because he has the mind of a champion. Talking to him, he seems older than his actual age. He’s humble, he always tries to learn and is very polite.”

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