Inter reject €50m transfer bid for Francesco Pio Esposito and plan to double his salary with new contract offer for rising star

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter have rejected a €50m (£42m/$55m) offer for Pio Esposito, confirming his untouchable status at the club. The striker has enjoyed a breakthrough few could have predicted, scoring a goal against Cagliari in just his third Serie A appearance and recently netting his first goal for Italy against Estonia. Inter’s faith in the youngster, who signed a deal until 2030 last spring, is now being rewarded as he continues to shine on both domestic and international stages.

The Italian striker's journey reflects Nerazzurri’s long-term planning. Signed as a child in 2014, he rose through the ranks while his brothers, Salvatore and Sebastiano, pursued their own paths in professional football. After a two-year loan at Spezia, he returned to Milan ready to contribute. His energy, pressing, and tactical maturity have impressed Cristian Chivu’s staff, with club insiders comparing his mentality to Lautaro Martínez’s early days at the club.

Despite interest from across Europe and even proposals involving player swaps, the Serie A giants never entertained talks of a sale. Instead, Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio are preparing to reward Esposito’s progress with a new contract that could see his wages rise from €1m to between €2m and €2.5m. The new deal would reflect his growing importance as Inter’s attacking alternative to Lautaro and Marcus Thuram.

Esposito embodies everything the Oaktree ownership want for the Nerazzurri’s next generation: youth, energy, and sustainability. His combination of power, intelligence, and humility has made him a fan favourite and a face of the club’s new sporting vision. If his development continues at this pace, Esposito could soon be leading both Inter’s front line and Italy’s hopes at the 2026 World Cup.