Como's Serie A Surge: Fairy Tale or Funded Takeover?

Picture this: you're scrolling the Serie A table, expecting the usual suspects – Inter, Juventus, Milan – but bam, there's Como sniffing around fourth place with just nine games to go. A club that was scraping around Italy's fourth tier seven years back, last in the top flight in 2003. Sounds like the ultimate underdog yarn, right? Well, grab a pint, because it's not quite that simple, as reported by Football365 via OneFootball.

Rocket Rise Under Fabregas

Cesc Fàbregas, the midfield maestro who dazzled for Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, hung up his boots at Como in 2023. Now he's the gaffer, turning heads with a side that's above Juventus by a point and fresh off humbling Roma (now sixth). Only Napoli and the Milan duo stand between them and Champions League glory.

Their lakeside stadium might look like a postcard – think Swiss Alps backdrop – but it doesn't pass UEFA muster yet. Still, three promotions in five years (2019, 2021, 2024) have catapulted them here. Fàbregas deserves credit for the stylish play, but let's peel back the glamour.

The Djarum Dollars: No Rags-to-Riches Here

Forget bootstraps; Como's got belts made of gold. Owners are Indonesia's Djarum Group, tobacco tycoons led by brothers Michael and Robert Budi Hartono. Michael's net worth with his bro? A casual $35.7 billion before he passed this week, per Forbes. Compare that to AC Milan's Gerry Cardinale ($1.8bn), Roma's Dan Friedkin ($10.9bn) or Juventus' John Elkann ($2.5bn).

They snapped up Como in 2019, right as the climb began. Throw in minority stakes from Thierry Henry and Fàbregas himself, and you've got serious clout. Money doesn't buy trophies, sure, but it greases the wheels – smart scouting, not splashy galas.

Young Guns Galore, But Not Italian Ones

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

Balance looks spot on, potential everywhere. But here's the kicker ruffling Italian feathers: zero minutes for Italians bar one. Yep, Edoardo Goldaniga got a solitary 60 seconds; he's one of two Azzurri in the senior squad alongside 35-year-old keeper Mauro Vigorito.

Italy's Azzurri are in World Cup play-off peril – third straight miss looming – and player production is under fire. Como's foreign-heavy tilt (six or seven Spaniards alone) has pundits fuming. Fàbregas hit back in summer: 'We scoured for Italians, young or old, but the top ones are at Inter or Juve. Spanish market's my wheelhouse – talent's booming there. I'd pick Italian every time if we could slot 'em in, but it's tough for our style. We're investing in youth sectors now.'

Fair play? Clubs aren't national team feeders by law. But in calcio's heartland, it stings. Como might snag Europe, but expect Serie A rivals to whisper 'mercenary' over their espressos.

Is this the feelgood story we crave post-Super League revolt? Partly. Or a glimpse of globalisation's double edge? Either way, Fàbregas' lads are must-watch. Who's buying their Champions League pint?