Real Madrid are reportedly admirers of Cesc Fabregas who has been earning plaudits in Italy while in charge of Como. The former Barcelona midfielder is the latest name to be linked with the Santiago Bernabeu job.
According to Spanish journalist Jorge Picon, Los Blancos are tracking Fabregas' progress at Como. He's been in charge of the Serie A club since the summer of 2024 and oversaw their promotion to the Italian top-flight in 2024.
Fabregas ties to Barca will surely be a concern given he came through La Masia academy and spent many years of playing his career at Camp Nou. But his success as a coach is undeniable and he currently has his side competing for European qualification.
Como sit fourth in Serie A, just five points behind last season's champions Napoli who are third. They have won 14 and lost just five of their 28 league games.
Fabregas' stock is growing amid a sensational reign at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia Djarum. There has been talk of him one day taking over at boyhood club Barca.
Madrid might try to prevent that from happening and they have "inquired about his way of working." The Spaniard uses a 4-2-3-1 formation and impements an attack-minded brand of football.
Los Blancos hero Raphael Varane signed for Como at the start of Fabregas' reign. The Frenchman's spell in Italy was cut short due to injury but he spoke highly of the coach's vision:
"It wasn't a very particular discussion per se, we talked about football. Very simply, I liked his philosophy of play. We have many ideas in common. Cesc obviously is a person who likes to win."
Fabregas has overseen 31 wins in 72 games as Como manager and is contracted to the Italian club until June 2028. He is one of Europe's most highly-admired tacticians who is seemingly now on Florentino Perez's watchlist.
Shades of Alonso
There are similarities between Fabregas and Xabi Alonso whose time in charge of Madrid ended in disaster. Both played the game as elegant ball-playing midfielders, both are young coaches who have achieved unbelievable feats in the duguout with underdog teams (Alonso won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen) and both know the demands of representing an El Clasico club.
That's why some might feel appointing the 38-year-old would be a similar risk to that of Alonso. There were problems from the off for the latter who struggled keeping his players in line and implementing his ideas.
Fabregas has been given control at Como, something that he might not be handed at the Bernabeu. It will be crucial that Perez allows him to take the same approach with Los Blancos as he has with Los apodos.