Cesc Fabregas has revealed Como could be forced to compete in the Champions League with a skeletal squad of just 16 or 17 players. The Italian side’s head coach explained that strict UEFA registration rules and the club’s current lack of a productive youth academy have created a significant headache ahead of their debut in Europe’s premier competition.
The Squad Registration Crisis
The Lariani’s extraordinary rise from Serie B to fourth place in Serie A within two seasons has caught many off guard. However, this rapid success brings complications. Fabregas noted that Como had only one Italian player in their squad last term, and he featured for merely a single minute in the league. This severe shortage of homegrown talent leaves them struggling to meet UEFA requirements for locally trained players, forcing them to submit a drastically reduced A-list.
“We have the UEFA list limits,” Fabregas stated. He explained that the club currently lacks a youth system able to supply sufficient homegrown players. Consequently, they face the prospect of entering the competition with merely 16 or 17 eligible footballers. He emphasised that developing such infrastructure requires patience and cannot be finished within two or three seasons. The Spaniard also cautioned that growing expectations place increasing pressure on the club’s young stars. “These are young players with significant quality,” he said. “As expectations grow around them, so too does the burden. This represents a normal process, and we must offer our support.”
New Recruits and Departures
To mitigate the shortfall, Como have moved quickly in the transfer market. They secured Italy Under-21 international Mattia Liberali from Catanzaro, along with Luis Milla and Kaiki. These arrivals follow the departures of experienced figures Alberto Moreno and Sergi Roberto.
Fabregas praised Liberali’s initiative, revealing the midfielder called him days before pre-season began to express his desire to start immediately. “He demonstrated great determination and quickly absorbed our concepts,” the manager said. Liberali is expected to feature in forthcoming fixtures and can operate as a trequartista or a False 9.
The coach also highlighted Milla’s leadership qualities, noting they had tracked the player since January. “He possesses character and acts as a leader,” Fabregas said. “He is the type of figure who can bring balance and organisation.” Regarding Kaiki, who arrives to fill the void left by Moreno, Fabregas commented: “I really like his aggression when defending, but we are requesting something different in possession and are working with him on that aspect.”
World Cup Absentees
Como’s preparations are further complicated by the extended absence of three key talents. Nico Paz, Assane Diao and Martin Baturina remain on holiday after competing at the 2026 World Cup. Paz, who featured for Argentina as they finished fourth, is scheduled to return on 17 August. Fabregas suggested the midfielder is unlikely to face Liverpool in the club’s upcoming fixture, though he admitted he might yet alter that decision.
The club is currently hosting the Como Cup at the Stadio Sinigaglia, welcoming Crystal Palace, RC Lens, Famalicao, Villarreal and Al-Ula for pre-season competition.