Cesc Fabregas used Como's open-top bus parade to say two things clearly. He is staying, and Como cannot treat Champions League football like a simple continuation of this season. The club are celebrating a fifth-place finish on 68 points, but Fabregas' mood was more caution than champagne. He knows the jump will be severe.
Fabregas is already planning for next season
Speaking to goal.com, Fabregas said: "Future? We had a long meeting at 2pm with the president and the director. We have consolidated the idea; the vision is already on the next season. I am very happy here; as you know, I am missing a step or two more, and I am learning a lot. We are creating a mentality."
He also told football-italia.net: "The growth of this club has been too fast; we've been pushing expectations for two and a half years. We are aware of who we are, and we have a clear vision. The demands of the Champions League are high. If you are not prepared, you concede six goals in certain stadiums."
That is the clearest read on Como right now. They have gone from Serie B two years ago to European football, and the final day summed up the rise neatly. They beat Cremonese 4-1 away, while Milan lost 2-1 at home to Cagliari, which helped Como into the Champions League places.
The numbers back up the scale of the season. Como finished fifth, won 19 league games, drew 11 and lost 7. That is a proper campaign, not a lucky run.
Nico Paz is the summer problem Fabregas wants solved
The other issue hanging over the celebration is Nico Paz. Fabregas called him "a very important player for our growth" and added, "our will is that he stays with us." He also narrowed the next step down by saying Paz will not play for Inter, only return to Real Madrid or stay at Como.
The structure is still awkward for Como. Paz is 50% their player, with Real Madrid holding the remaining control through a buy-back structure. That is why the summer will not be quiet, even after the parade. Real Madrid can re-sign him until June 2027.
Paz's output gives Como a strong case to keep pushing. He scored 13 goals and added 9 assists across all competitions, which is exactly why the club want the conversation settled in their favour. Fabregas wants stability, but the buy-back situation means the story is only partly in Como's hands.
For now, though, the message from the manager is simple enough. He is not walking away from this project, and he is not pretending the next level will be easy. Como have earned the right to celebrate, but the Champions League will ask for something sharper than what got them here.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
