News Focus
- Stadio Sinigaglia will undergo renovation after the match against Parma to meet UEFA standards.
- Como 1907 require one point from their final two fixtures to secure Europa League football.
- The club plans to sign more Italian players to satisfy European squad regulations.
- Twenty-three loan players will return to the squad ahead of next season’s campaign.
- Nico Paz’s permanent transfer depends entirely on Real Madrid’s decision.
Como 1907 President Mirwan Suwarso has confirmed ambitious plans to strengthen the squad with Italian talent and upgrade the club’s home ground. The Azzurri aim to prepare Stadio Sinigaglia for European competition next term.
The stadium currently fails to meet UEFA requirements for continental matches. However, Suwarso expects construction work to finish by the end of the summer. “We hope the refurbishment completes after the summer. Work can start immediately following Sunday’s clash with Parma,” he told Gazzetta.
The club sits close to securing European qualification. They need just one draw from their remaining two Serie A fixtures to guarantee Europa League football. They could still reach the Champions League, though Suwarso remains cautious about expectations.
“We want to finish as high as possible, but we will accept what comes,” he stated. “The Champions League is not our main target. We simply want to improve on last season’s performance.”
European football will require a larger squad. Como must balance three competitions next year. Suwarso noted that twenty-three players will return from loan spells. “We do not need to rebuild completely. The team has a strong identity already. We must find sustainable solutions for our transfer activity,” he explained.
Critics have pointed to Como’s high spending over the past two years. Suwarso defended the club’s approach. “Money helps, but football history shows resources do not guarantee success. We focus on making the club profitable and sustainable within two or three years,” he responded.
Regarding Argentine midfielder Nico Paz, Suwarso insisted Champions League qualification would not determine his future. The player remains on loan from Real Madrid. “It depends completely on Real Madrid,” Suwarso confirmed.
UEFA regulations require Como to increase their number of homegrown Italian players. “We are always searching for more Italians. We bought four during our first Serie A season,” Suwarso said. He admitted domestic talent proves expensive. “We cannot pay in instalments for them. We are developing four or five Italian youngsters for the first team instead.”
The president named several stars he admires but cannot afford. These include Riccardo Orsolini, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Marco Venturino, Matteo Cambiaghi, and Luca Pellegrini.
Suwarso praised the collaborative nature of Italian football. He mentioned positive relationships with executives including Antonio Percassi, Giuseppe Marotta, Claudio Fenucci, Claudio Lotito, and Aurelio De Laurentiis. “Clubs compete on the pitch, but off it we support each other to grow the league. Italy feels very welcoming, similar to Indonesia,” he concluded.