Pio Esposito agent backs Italy coach Gattuso to ‘make the right choices’ about Inter starlet | OneFootball

Mario Giuffredi, one of Italian football’s most prominent agents, has spoken at length about several of his clients ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff final against Bosnia, touching on Pio Esposito’s potential starting role, Matteo Politano’s remarkable evolution and Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s injury timeline.

On the question of whether Pio Esposito should start in Bosnia, Giuffredi was careful not to overstep, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“Gattuso will know how to make the right choices for the good of the national team, he does not need advice from anyone,” he said. “Pio Esposito is a boy with great personality. If he is called upon from the first minute, he will approach this match the same way he approaches every game, with simplicity. That is one of his qualities.”

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 14: Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

After Pio Esposito comments, Giuffredi talks Napoli contingent

Politano, who impressed alongside Tonali in the win over Northern Ireland, drew particularly enthusiastic praise from his agent.

“When he was at Inter he was not mentally ready for the sacrifice his current role demands,” Giuffredi said. “Now he is more predisposed, mature, and he has accepted playing as a complete wide midfielder. He and Tonali were the best players on the pitch against Northern Ireland. The longer time goes on, the stronger he becomes, which is unusual, because most players’ performances start to decline.”

Di Lorenzo will not travel to Bosnia, having already made a significant personal sacrifice to attend the Northern Ireland match in Bergamo while managing a serious injury.

“He left after his afternoon therapy sessions and returned to Naples at 6am the next day,” Giuffredi revealed. The agent expressed hope that his client could return to action in the final week of April.

On Antonio Vergara, another Napoli client who has broken into Conte’s plans this season, Giuffredi expressed frustration that injury had struck at precisely the wrong moment. “He could have received a national team call-up. The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate.” A contract renewal is expected to be discussed at the end of the season.

Giuffredi also reserved special praise for Torino loanee Luca Marianucci, a former Napoli academy product. “I believe he will be part of Italy’s future,” he said firmly. “I have said the same about Hysaj, Mario Rui, Di Lorenzo and Politano over the years, and I have rarely been wrong about players from Napoli.”