Marotta on Inter targets, Nico Paz interest and Arsenal focus on Pio Esposito | OneFootball

Inter President Beppe Marotta hopes the Coppa Italia semi-final with Como can bring silverware, rules out Arsenal for Francesco Pio Esposito and hails ‘talent’ Nico Paz.

It kicks off at the Stadio Sinigaglia at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

This is the only stage of the competition played home and away, with the second leg planned for April 21 or 22, although a firm date has not been set.

Marotta looks to Inter present and future

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s second from the penalty spot goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The Nerazzurri are flying high at the top of the Serie A table with a 10-point gap, but crashed out of the Champions League after losing both home and away to Bodo/Glimt.

“We turned the page in the Champions League, naturally with regret, but we see it as a valuable learning experience,” Marotta told Sport Mediaset.

“Challenging in various different competitions means there are dangers, you can’t win them all. So that left us with bitter disappointment, but we keep going.”

When Inter met Como in Serie A back in December, they ran out 4-0 winners at San Siro, but this is a different competition.

COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Nico Paz of Como 1907 shows his dejection during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on February 01, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

This is an intriguing clash for the transfer market too, as Inter have been linked with a bid for Como starlet Nico Paz.

“Nico Paz is certainly an interesting talent who has a great career ahead of him, but he is owned by Real Madrid, they have a buy-back option with Como. I doubt Real Madrid will let him slip through their fingers, and we’ll hear a lot about him in the years to come.”

LECCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter warms up prior to the Serie A match between US Lecce and FC Internazionale at Stadio Via del Mare on February 21, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

There were also reports that Arsenal had made enquiries after Inter centre-forward Pio Esposito, who has flourished this season at age 20.

“Arsenal did not ask for Pio Esposito, but also Inter are not a selling club, we don’t make player trading our main activity. Pio Esposito is a product of our youth academy and we treasure him,” replied Marotta.

“Of course, anything can happen in future, but that would only be very far into the future.”

SASSUOLO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazioale celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 08, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

With the Derby della Madonnina against Milan coming up on Sunday evening, there is some squad rotation, resting Marcus Thuram who is not at 100 per cent, with Lautaro Martinez and Ange-Yoan Bonny already out of action.

“It won’t be decisive, there are still many games to go, many dangers, many points still up for grabs. It is important to give consistency, but you can’t just drop points against the big clubs, as the small ones have their dangers too,” concluded the President.