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

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

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.

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.”

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.”

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.