{"id":2333,"date":"2026-03-04T11:42:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2333"},"modified":"2026-03-04T11:42:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:42:44","slug":"inter-milan-president-sends-message-to-arsenal-over-pio-esposito-transfer-deal-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2333","title":{"rendered":"Inter Milan president sends message to Arsenal over Pio Esposito transfer deal | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arsenal have been credited with a strong interest in Inter Milan forward Pio Esposito (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inter Milan president Beppe Marotta has ruled out a summer transfer move for Pio Esposito and insists there has been no contact with Arsenal regarding a deal for the striker.<\/p>\n

Esposito has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Inter having rejoined his boyhood side following an impressive two-season-long loan spell with Serie B outfit Spezia.<\/p>\n

The 20-year-old\u2019s goalscoring exploits almost helped Spezia seal promotion back to the Italian top flight last term and he has picked up where he left off with Inter, netting seven times and providing six assists in all competitions for the Serie A leaders.<\/p>\n

But it was an eye-catching cameo performance in Inter\u2019s Champions League clash with Arsenal in January that reportedly caught the attention of Mikel Arteta on the touchline.<\/p>\n

According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport this week, Esposito both \u2018frightened\u2019 and \u2018fascinated\u2019 Arteta with his impact in the group-stage tie\u00a0and the youngster has \u2018remained in the eyes and thoughts\u2019 of Arsenal ever since.<\/p>\n

Esposito started on the bench on the night but came on in place of Lautaro Martinez on the hour-mark and caused Cristhian Mosquera immediate problems with his physicality and hold-up play. <\/p>\n

It prompted Arteta to withdraw Mosquera in favour of the more experienced Gabriel Magalhaes and the Gunners would come away from the San Siro with a 3-1 win.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Inter\t<\/div>
Arteta was impressed by Esposito\u2019s cameo display against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Berta spoke to Inter about the striker after Arsenal\u2019s win, according to reports in Italy (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Italian newspaper claimed Arteta spoke to Arsenal chief Andrea Berta about Esposito after the game and the latter \u2018quickly contacted\u2019 Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio to learn whether the player was for sale and how much a deal might cost.<\/p>\n

Inter were said to have \u2018clearly refused\u2019 Berta \u2018without even thinking\u2019, telling the Arsenal sporting director that the centre-forward was central cog in their plans for the future.<\/p>\n

But when asked about these reports on Tuesday, Inter president Marotta claimed: \u2018Arsenal haven\u2019t asked us about him.<\/p>\n

\u2018Inter do not want to sell him and we are not a club that makes player trading its main business. <\/p>\n

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\u2018He\u2019s a product that grew up in the youth academy, and we\u2019re guarding him like a treasure.\u2019<\/p>\n

Marotta appeared to shut the door on Esposito leaving Inter to join Arsenal this summer \u2013 but left the possibility open \u2018in the very distant future\u2019 for potential suitors.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ll talk about his transfer again in the future, but it\u2019ll be a very distant future,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Giuseppe\t<\/div>
Inter \u2018do not want to sell\u2019 Esposito, says club president Marotta (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inter secured Esposito on a modest salary of around \u20ac1million-a-season (\u00a3800,000-a-season) prior to last year\u2019s\u00a0Club World Cup\u00a0\u2013 a deal that may need to be improved if the likes of Arsenal continue to circle.<\/p>\n

The 6 ft 3 in attacker made his senior debut for the Italian national team in a World Cup qualifying victory over Estonia last September, coming on as a late substitute for Moise Kean.<\/p>\n

He has gone on to earn a further four caps for his country, scoring in three of those matches against Estonia, in the reverse fixture, and in both of Italy\u2019s wins over Moldova and Norway back in November.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Estonia\t<\/div>
The youngster has been capped five times by the senior Italy team (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When facing the media, Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has had nothing but praise for Esposito ever since the youngster returned from his loan spell with Spezia last summer.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s the merit of a boy who wants to prove himself,\u2019 Chivu recently said of Esposito\u2019s meteoric rise.<\/p>\n

\u2018He wants to put himself on the line and take responsibility like everyone else: if things don\u2019t go well, it\u2019s my fault.<\/p>\n

\u2018But I like that they follow me and want to make this season what we all hope it can be.\u2019<\/p>\n

As the former head coach of Inter Milan\u2019s Primavera academy side, Chivu joked that he had \u2018practically grown up\u2019 alongside Pio Esposito.<\/p>\n

\u2018He was a small kid, tall. He barely reached my chest. We\u2019ve practically grown up together,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n

\u2018I know his family, I know his background, his journey through the youth system. He was an underage captain in my\u00a0Inter\u00a0Primavera team.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m happy for him, just as I am for the rest of the team.\u2019<\/p>\n

Esposito\u2019s current deal with the Serie A giants runs through to June 2030.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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