Francesco Esposito, Inter's 21-year-old forward, has contributed a goal across three Serie A appearances this season as Chivu's Inter sit second in the table with nine points from three wins — an unbeaten start that frames Esposito's early campaign in the most favourable light possible.
The significance of that context is not decorative. A young forward developing within a side that has yet to drop a point carries a different kind of pressure than one fighting for form inside a struggling team. Inter have scored eight goals and conceded three in those three matches, which means Esposito is operating in an attack with genuine momentum behind it. His average rating of 7.12 across those appearances suggests he is contributing without being the focal point — a sustainable position for a player of his age and profile.
The most recent evidence of Inter's quality came in a 3-2 comeback victory against Napoli, with Lautaro Martínez sealing the result after the Nerazzurri had trailed by two goals. Esposito was not among the scorers in that match, but the nature of the win — a side capable of overturning a deficit against one of the division's stronger opponents — speaks to the competitive environment in which he is developing. Lautaro and Marcus Thuram both spoke afterwards of a hunger the squad had been missing in the previous campaign, a statement of collective intent that Esposito, as part of that group, inherits.
The weeks ahead will test the squad's depth. Federico Dimarco is reportedly in doubt for Inter's Champions League opener against Real Madrid, a fixture that will demand rotation and create opportunity. Esposito's AI overall of 73 out of 100, with a potential of 82, positions him as a player the club believes has meaningful development still ahead of him — not a finished article, but one whose ceiling justifies patience and minutes.
Three matches is a small sample, but the trajectory is coherent: a goal, a rating above seven, and a team winning every game. For a 21-year-old forward still establishing himself at this level, that is a foundation worth building on.