Como's president has confirmed that Cesc Fabregas will not be held back by the club should he wish to pursue a new challenge elsewhere, downplaying reports of a specific release clause tied to the Italian coach's contract.
Mirwan Suwarso addressed speculation linking Fabregas with a return to Arsenal or Chelsea, as well as a potential move to Barcelona, after reports emerged suggesting the former midfielder could depart for minimal compensation under certain contractual terms. Rather than confirming or denying the exact details, Suwarso insisted that any such clause would be unnecessary given his personal relationship with the coach.
"He doesn't need a clause to go anywhere he wants," Suwarso said during an appearance on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored show. "In a business like this, he's a friend more than anything else. He can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants."
The Como chief went further, suggesting he would wave Fabregas off even to a club like Bayer Leverkusen without seeking a fee in return. "I could even say if tomorrow he calls me and says, 'Hey, I want to go to Leverkusen'. I would say if that's something you want to do then go. I don't need any compensation," he added.
Fabregas joined Como's coaching staff initially in a supporting role before being elevated to interim head coach, a period during which the club secured promotion to Serie A. He was handed the permanent position ahead of the following campaign and has since overseen a remarkable transformation at the Italian side, establishing them as a credible force in the top flight. The Spaniard also holds a minority stake in the club as a shareholder.
His growing reputation as one of the brighter young coaching talents in the game has fueled constant speculation about a move to a bigger stage, with his former clubs Arsenal and Chelsea repeatedly mentioned as possible destinations.
The swirling transfer talk intensified following a pre-season friendly over the summer, when Como faced Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side, giving Fabregas the chance to reflect on his time at the Emirates and how it continues to shape his methods at Como. "I'm very lucky I'm in a project, of course with much lower level, the history, everything," Fabregas said after the match. "But we're trying to look at the stability Arsenal had, the values, the culture that they are bringing."
Suwarso praised the impact Fabregas has had in just two years at the helm, crediting him with building the structural and cultural foundations that have allowed Como to compete domestically and look toward European football. He compared the 38-year-old's influence to that of a footballing icon synonymous with lasting institutional change.
"He's helped us build our club, he created the football foundations," Suwarso said. "I always like to say he's our Johan Cruyff, as he did at Barcelona. He created the fundamentals for us. I love having him, he's almost like family. But you can't keep people who don't want to be there."
The comments suggest that, while Como value Fabregas' contribution highly, the club's hierarchy is prepared for the possibility that his next career step could come sooner rather than later, with no financial obstacles standing in his way should an offer from one of his former clubs materialize.
Based on reporting from standard-football.