Born in Naples, Esposito started his professional career in Catanzaro in Serie C2, where he was a promising midfielder in the early 1990s. When Reggiana was promoted to Serie A in 1993, they signed Esposito as the team's playmaker, who went on to make his Serie A debut with the club. During his two years in Reggio Emilia, Esposito was one of the clubs' key players, helping to save the club from relegation to Serie B in 1994, although he was unable to prevent the club from being relegated the following season.