Sebastiano Esposito on first Italy call-up alongside brother Pio: 'When he misses a goal, we tease him'
Quick summary
Sebastiano Esposito speaks about receiving his first senior Italy call-up and sharing the experience with his brother Pio Esposito, both selected for the Azzurri squad.
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Attributed to original sourceSebastiano Esposito has spoken of the pride of earning his first senior Italy call-up, and of sharing the moment with his younger brother Francesco Pio.
Speaking to Vivo Azzurro TV at Coverciano, with quotes via FirenzeViola , the Sassuolo forward revealed Roberto Mancini’s message to the new arrivals. “What did Mancini tell us? To enjoy it. In general, coming to the national team is fantastic and sometimes you struggle to enjoy it because of the emotions you feel. Doing it with your brother is even better. He gave us advice on the pitch to perform better.”
SALON-DE-PROVENCE, FRANCE – JUNE 12: Sebastiano Esposito of Italy U21 looks on during the 50th Tournoi Maurice Revello match between Italy U21 and Indonesia U20 at Stade Marcel Roustan on June 12, 2024 in Salon-de-Provence, France. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Esposito: ‘Representing your country is something else’ Italy open their Nations League campaign against Belgium at the Olimpico on Friday, Mancini’s first game back in charge. “It definitely helps, given how we experience football in Italy. It will be an even more beautiful emotion, but home or away, we care about doing very well and we will try to take points.”
Esposito credited his path through the youth ranks, having lost an Under-17 European Championship final. “They teach you the honours and responsibilities of the national team from when you are young. Understanding that early takes you forward, towards life and the badge you are wearing. We both played tournaments with Inter and were fortunate in that respect, but representing your country is something else.”
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale Milano celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) He also shared an anecdote about Pio’s childhood. “When he was little, we always put him in goal. He was short, Salvatore and I were a bit bossy with him. We almost convinced him to become a goalkeeper. Thank goodness that didn’t happen.”
The three brothers remain close to their roots in Castellammare di Stabia. “For us it is a source of pride. We have seen many beautiful cities, especially me, abroad as well. But it remains the most beautiful city in the world. Every time we can go back, we do, and we help the people there. There have never been arguments between us, the bond is built on love. But when Pio misses a goal, we tease him. And that happens often.”
The call-up follows a strong start at Sassuolo, where he opened the scoring in the 3-2 win over Juventus. “The emotion is huge, we can’t wait for Friday. We are lucky to both have a pinch of recklessness.”
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What happened
Sebastiano Esposito has earned his first senior Italy national team call-up, joining his older brother Pio Esposito in the Azzurri squad. The Inter youth product spoke warmly about the family milestone, joking that they tease each other when one of them misses a chance in front of goal. The simultaneous selection of the two brothers marks a notable moment for Italian football, with both having progressed through Inter Milan's academy system.
Chance analysis
Having two brothers from the same academy called up to the senior Italy squad at the same time is a rare and heartwarming moment, and a small vindication of Inter Milan's youth development pipeline. For Sebastiano, this is a breakthrough after a long developmental path that included multiple loan spells, while Pio has been one of the breakout strikers in Serie A this season. Their presence together gives the Azzurri coaching staff a unique chance to build around a family connection that could translate to on-pitch chemistry.
Sebastiano Esposito's first senior Italy call-up boosts his profile and signals a potential new attacking option for the Azzurri, with the Esposito brothers now both available to the national team setup.