TIRRENIA (ITALPRESS) – Not even a week ago, Pio Esposito played and scored at his home, in another jersey. It could happen again Tuesday, because Pio will play again in what has become his home, in another jersey. These are days of strong emotions for the National Under-21 and Spezia striker, who entered yesterday’s friendly against France late in the game and who is preparing for the second test of this November window, scheduled for Tuesday against Ukraine at the ‘Alberto Piccò stadium at 6:15 p.m. with live coverage on Rai 2. “The one against France was a difficult match, against an opponent that was physically and technically strong,” Esposito emphasized to figc.it from the Tirrenia retreat. “But we played with an open mind, showing that we are also at a very good level. The same achieved by the third of the Esposito brothers this early in the season: six goals in Serie B, already twice as many as all those scored last year, plus four in Latina’s 7-0 loss to San Marino. “Better than this would have been difficult to start: it’s a beautiful moment, but I don’t stop working every day.” Strong emotions, then, because in addition to those experienced on the field with the Spezia and Italy jersey, on Monday in his Castellammare di Stabia (in the Cicerone district) Salvatore and Sebastiano inaugurated the new pitch renovated by the Esposito brothers themselves, the one where the three boys grew up. Pio wasn’t there, because he was in training camp with the Under 21 team, but it’s as if he was. “I was on video call with my cousin,” he says, “so I didn’t miss a moment of that day. I almost escaped a tear: it was very emotional even from a distance. Seeing all the people of the ward, my family members, all united on our field, the one that saw us grow up. We wanted to send the message that you should never forget your origins if they gave you everything. Growing up on that little field, we learned so much: the values of sports and life, ideals, the spirit of togetherness, friendship, being together, respect for older people. It was a little field where there were no rules: who came, played. And those who didn’t play, waited their turn.” Pio, the youngest of the Esposito brothers, waited, but when it was his turn he was already doing well. “Playing with the older ones already at the playground taught me so much, it led me to have to go twice as hard as the others, and it was repeated over the years. From the Primavera of Inter, to the Under 20 World Cup, the Under 19 European Championship, and now with the Under 21 and in Serie B. But I have always had great respect for those who are older than me.” Including Sebastiano and Salvatore: “I used to spend weekends watching their games and was inspired by them. Having two professional soccer players so close allows me to be able to get advice, especially when things are not going well. Because when things are going well there is little to say and little to fix.” Last Sunday was a surreal Sunday: Spezia, third in Serie B, won 3-0 at Castellammare. First goal by Pio Esposito, second by Salvatore Esposito. “To score there was a very strange emotion,” he admits. For a moment, when the ball went in, I had a hard time understanding what was going on. Inside I was happy, but the chill in the stadium I felt. It was almost like hurting myself, for someone like me who even from afar had season tickets to see Juve Stabia’s games in every category and who cried when they lost. For me it was the first time at the ‘Mentì: Salvatore had played there, but behind closed doors. We were overjoyed that the Castellammare public welcomed us like that: they all understood that on the field we are professionals and we give our all for the jersey we wear, that of Spezia.” A Spezia that is giving several youngsters to the national teams: not only Esposito, but also Bertola in the Under 21 and Candelari in the Under 20. “I am very happy for Nicolò who joined me in the Under 21 and for Pietro who managed to find space in the Under 20. He has great potential. Things are going well in La Spezia, so it’s easier to express themselves both for individuals and for the team. Last year we were struggling, this year we started better.” Before returning to host La Spezia, the Picco is preparing to host the Under-21 team. “It will be another special emotion, strange but beautiful, also because La Spezia is the city of so many of my firsts and to which I have become very attached,” he says. “The first team among the professionals, the first games as a professional, the first goals as a professional, the city where I got my driver’s license and also the city where I went to live for the first time on my own. And speaking of firsts, it will be the first game with the arch mounted above the Ferrovia curve, and which will have to support the coverage of the ‘heart’ of the La Spezia fans. “We can’t wait to get back to playing with the people in the curve,” explains Esposito, who then virtually opens the doors to his family’s home in Brescia. There is an endless collection of jerseys and balls there, with Pio taking the Italy-San Marino jersey there, the one from the poker game. “We lost count of the number of jerseys there,” he jokes, “Now there are three of us contributing. The one I cherish the most? One of Morata, taken by Seba, who managed to take home so many in his Serie A year.” – Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
