How Como’s Starting Lineup May Look in 2025-26 After $120 Million Summer Spending Spree

Just where 10 summer signings will fit into Cesc Fabregas’ plans for next season remains to be seen, but we attempt to make sense of a potential Como starting lineup for 2025-26.

What Are the Expectations For Como’s 2025-26 Season?

Como find themselves in a perfect storm — and by perfect I mean good.

Off the pitch, they are backed by the wealthiest owners in Serie A —the Hartono brothers — who boast a combined net worth of $40 billion.

Financial vigor means nothing without purpose, however, and Como have installed the likes of Sporting Director Carlalberto ‘Charly’ Ludi and CEO Francesco Terrazzani to drive the project forward.

Working in tandem with one of Europe’s most sought-after soccer minds, Cesc Fabregas, the club appear to have cultivated a harmonious environment that continues to deliver on its ambitious, long-term goals.

A 10th-placed finish in Como’s first season in the top-flight for 21 years is no mean feat, but it leaves a punishingly small margin for improvement, with challenging for Europe the logical next step.

For context, Como have never featured in European competition across its 118-year history.

Of course, for a club who only gained promotion the season before last, finishing around mid-table will not necessarily be a bad thing.

However, Como have set lofty ambitions for themselves. They are determined not to rest on their laurels, and this summer have set in motion the second-biggest spending spree in Serie A, in order to reinforce and ultimately improve an already-thriving squad.

Knocking on the door for a European spot appears to be their target, but if last season’s table is any indication, that would require an additional 16 points. They are ahead of Coppa Italia winners Bologna in the race for a top four finish, according to offshore sportsbooks, but eight teams are all still predicted to finish above them.

That is a tall order for a team who are still finding their feet in the top-flight, but they have moved to bring in personnel who can deliver those points. It is also worth noting Como possess the largest squad in the division, so they it is clear they are building to cope with the demands of another gruelling season.

How Will Como Lineup in 2025-26?

Following a $100m-plus spending spree this summer, it begs the question, how will Como lineup in 2025-26 with a slew of fresh faces?

A team underscored by a mixture of youthful exuberance and a wealth of experience has gotten that little bit younger this summer.

42-year-old Pepe Reina has finally pulled the curtain down on his career, while veterans Simone Verdi and Alessio Iovine have also departed.

Only one of Como’s 10 new signings is over 25, which provides an exciting glimpse into the long-term vision of the club.

They have also managed to keep hold of some of their standout performers from last season, who had been in danger of moving elsewhere.

Ignace Van Der Brempt, Alex Valle and Maximo Perrone, all of whom spent last season on loan, have now had their deals made permanent.

The biggest success story comes in the form of keeping hold of Nico Paz, who they are eager to take 100 percent ownership of with Real Madrid still controlling half of his rights.

Elsewhere, new arrivals on either wing in the shape of Jayden Addai on the right, and Jesus Rodriguez on the left, are both hugely exciting at 19-years-old.

Nicolas Kuhn’s transfer from Celtic is also an astute piece of business, having been one of the most productive players in Scotland last season, racking up 36 goal contributions.

Fabregas has an abundance of players at his disposal, but it is difficult to see where they all fit in. Will the new teenage arrivals get the minutes their transfer fees reflect? Will the starting XI be radically different to last season given very few players have left?

Below is our interpretation of what Como plan to do next season. As 2024-25 showed, Fabregas stresses the importance of player well-being and rotation, so this predicted lineup is what we believe Fabregas pictures as his strongest side, but not necessarily his most used variation.

The only brand-new signings included are Kuhn and Alvaro Morata, who add genuine pedigree and improvement to their specific positions.

There will no doubt be minutes available for the rest of the new signings, but each of the existing Como players in the lineup above have proven their worth to Fabregas.

Morata, who blasted Galatasary over his delayed move, is a real coup for Como. They will use the vastly experienced Spaniard as the perfect attacking fulcrum for Kuhn and Assane Diao, who scored a team-high eight goals in Serie A as a teenager last season.