Fabregas: I’ve never thought about leaving Como

Cesc Fabregas insists he has “never thought about leaving” Como, despite reported interest in his services.

Since becoming head coach, Fabregas has led Como to promotion to Serie A and last year guided them into the Champions League places.

The Spaniard was linked with the Inter and Bayer Leverkusen roles in 2025, while reports emerged suggesting there is a clause in his contract which would allow him to join Arsenal, Chelsea or Barcelona – all of whom he represented as a player.

Off the back of a memorable Champions League win over Manchester United, Como host Alberto Aquilani’s Sassuolo in Serie A.

Como president Mirwan Suwarso recently spoke highly of Aquilani, and Fabregas was asked if the Sassuolo boss could one day replace him at Como.

“I’ve never thought about leaving. If I started thinking about it, maybe that would be the end for me here, but I’ve never done it,” Fabregas said.

“I can certainly say positive things about him [Aquilani]. His football is very similar in terms of ideas.

“You’re making me think about it now, but I’m very relaxed about his career and what he’ll go on to do.

“I really like Alberto as a coach, for his ideas and his courage, and for how his teams play football.

“He called me last summer because he really wanted Rispoli at Catanzaro. Rispoli was the first player I ever had as a coach, so sending him to Alberto gave me complete peace of mind.”

Pass, move, repeat  https://t.co/LrGTQrpzr9

— Como1907 (@Como_1907) October 23, 2026

Como are fifth in Serie A, five points off early leaders Inter, and six ahead of 13th-place Sassuolo.

Sassuolo lost 4-2 to Frosinone last time out and are winless in their last three Serie A games (D1 L2).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Como – Nico Paz

Nico Paz became the third-youngest midfielder to reach 20 goals in Serie A in the three-points-for-a-win era (since 1994-95) when he scored against Fiorentina at 22 years and 40 days old, with only Domenico Morfeo (22 years, 23 days) and Marek Hamsik (22 years, 34 days) doing so at a younger age.

Aged 22 years and 46 days for this match, he could become the youngest midfielder to surpass the 20-goal threshold in the three-points-for-a-win era.

Sassuolo – Domenico Berardi

Domenico Berardi scored on the last Serie A matchday and is looking to score in consecutive games for the first time since November 2025.

Since 2013-14 (his first goalscoring season in Serie A), only Ciro Immobile (196) and Lautaro Martinez (136) have scored more goals than the Sassuolo forward (132) in the competition.

MATCH PREDICTION: COMO WIN

Como and Sassuolo have only previously met in Serie A last season, with one home win apiece; Como won 2-0 in November 2025, while Sassuolo secured a 2-1 victory in April 2026.

Como have gained 14 points in Serie A this season; only in 1950-51 have they collected as many points after their first seven matches in the competition (14 on that occasion too), considering three points for a win.

Sassuolo are the only team to have both scored and conceded in every Serie A game this season; they have scored 12 goals and conceded 14, an average of 3.7 goals per game in total.

Aquilani’s side are winless in their last 10 Serie A away games (D3 L7); they have only ever had a longer run without a victory on the road in the top-flight once before, a 15-match streak between December 2023 and September 2025.

Como have conceded just one goal in their last four Serie A home matches, keeping three clean sheets; the same number of shutouts they registered in their previous nine home games in the competition.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Como – 61.4%

Draw – 19.9%

Sassuolo – 18.7%