Como's Serie A Fairy Tale: Rags to Riches or Just Plain Riches?

Picture this: you're scrolling through the Serie A table, expecting the usual suspects – Inter, Juventus, the Milan lot. Then bam, lurking in fourth place? Como. A club that was kicking about in Italy's fourth division just seven years back, last gracing Serie A in 2003. Now, with nine games to go, they're eyeing Champions League spots, sat pretty above Juventus and fresh off humbling Roma (now sixth).

It's the kind of yarn that warms the cockles, right? Especially with Cesc Fàbregas at the helm – the ex-Arsenal, Barça and Chelsea maestro who's swapped boots for the bench. Retired here in 2023, he's turned Como into promotion machines (2019, 2021, 2024) and now contenders. But hold your horses, mate – this isn't your classic underdog romp.

The Billionaire Backing

Let's talk dosh. Como's overlords are Indonesia's Djarum Group, tobacco titans run by the late Michael Hartono (RIP this week, aged 86) and brother Robert. Their combined war chest? A eye-watering $35.7 billion, per Forbes. That's dwarfing AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale's $1.8bn, Roma's Dan Friedkin on $10.9bn, and Juventus bigwig John Elkann's $2.5bn.

Sure, cash doesn't buy trophies – ask Chelsea fans – but it's greased the wheels since Djarum snapped up Como in 2019. Throw in minority stakes from Thierry Henry and Fàbregas himself, and you've got ambition with an asterisk. Smart spending, mind: they've raided youth academies, not the chequebook apocalypse.

Youth Revolution on the Pitch

Como's squad is a whippersnapper collective – fourth youngest in Serie A at 25.6 years average age. Their minute-munchers? 21-year-old ex-Real Madrid hopefuls Nico Paz and Jacobo Ramon, plus 23-year-old Maximo Perrone (late of Man City). Skipper Lucas De Cunha is a mere 24, with grizzled imports like Sergi Roberto, Alvaro Morata, Alberto Moreno and Diego Carlos adding nous.

Fàbregas has the balance spot on, blending Spanish flair (he knows that market inside out) with promise. Recent scalps over Roma prove it. Stadium's a stunner by Lake Como – shame UEFA reckon it needs work for Europe.

The Italian Ire: Zero Locals in Sight

Here's the rub ruffling Italian feathers: Como have dished out one single minute to Italian players this season. Yep, one. That went to 30-something centre-back Edoardo Goldaniga, with 35-year-old keeper Mauro Vigorito the only other Azzurri in the senior setup. As tweeted by Wayne Girard back in March, it's sparked a firestorm.

Italy's Azzurri are wobbling towards World Cup play-offs, desperate to end a run of misses. With player pipelines under the cosh, Como's foreign legion sticks in the craw. Fàbregas defended it last summer: they'd scoured for top Italians, but the best are locked at Inter or Juve. Spanish kids fit their slick style better, he reckoned, vowing to scout and nurture homegrown talent via the youth ranks.

"I'd pick an Italian over a Spaniard every time," he insisted, blaming market realities. Fair play? Or Serie A's latest flashpoint? Como's charge continues, but expect pitchforks if they snag Europe without a whiff of tricolore.

Word on the street: this lakeside upstarts could redefine underdogs – if they deliver. Cheers to that pint – what's your take?