Inter could partner Lautaro with Pio Esposito in Serie A opener against Monza
Quick summary
Inter Milan are considering starting Pio Esposito alongside Lautaro Martinez in attack for their Serie A season opener against Monza.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceChampions Inter are preparing to defend their title and star striker Lautaro Martinez is training hard at Appiano Gentile, as Cristian Chivu begins work on deciding who will partner him in attack in the season opener against Monza.
According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb , Francesco Pio Esposito is currently expected to partner El Toro, as he leads Marcus Thuram in terms of fitness.
Thuram was a part of France’s squad at the World Cup in the summer, although he did not get much of a chance on the pitch. Pio Esposito, meanwhile, missed out on the tournament after Italy’s failure to qualify, given additional rest ahead of the new campaign.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates after the team’s victory in the Coppa Italia Final match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on May 13, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images) Lautaro works hard in summer break as Inter prepare for Monza The Corriere report that Lautaro, on the other hand, returned to training way ahead of schedule and has spent the summer break focusing on his fitness and nutrition.
Inter kick off their title defence on August 22, which also happens to be Lautaro’s birthday, against newly promoted Monza. Monza, who were promoted as play-off winners, prove an interesting test for Chivu ‘s champions but fitness will determine who leads the line for the Nerazzurri.
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What happened
Inter Milan may deploy a new attacking partnership featuring Lautaro Martinez and young forward Pio Esposito for their opening Serie A fixture against Monza. The potential pairing suggests manager is open to giving Esposito a significant role from the start of the campaign, pairing experience with youth in the frontline. This lineup choice would indicate a tactical shift or rotation plan ahead of the new season.
Chance analysis
Pio Esposito emerging as a potential starter alongside captain Lautaro signals Inter's intent to integrate youth into their first team setup, possibly to provide competition for places or due to other forward options being unavailable. For match prediction purposes, this partnership changes Inter's expected attacking dynamics, with Esposito offering a different profile (physicality, link-up play) compared to alternatives like Thuram or Taremi. A Lautaro-Esposito axis would be a notable tactical talking point for the opener.
Potential upgrade in Inter's attacking options if Esposito starts, though it represents an unproven partnership that could either energize or destabilize the frontline.
If Esposito starts, factor in his playing profile and partnership with Lautaro when predicting Inter's attacking output against Monza.