Como's Champions League rise
Sports · Heat 1.1 / 10 · 2 shows · 15m airtime
Como host Manchester United in the Champions League on October 21, 2026, three years after playing in Serie B. The club knocked down a stand after last season's final home game to build a Champions League compliant replacement. The Djarum family bought Como for $850,000 in April 2019 and have been promoted three times in six years, and the signings of Moise Kean, Samuel Ricci and Mattia Liberali answer criticism that the club does not develop Italian players. United arrive without Heaven, Martinez and Shaw, leaving Maguire and De Ligt as the only fit centre-backs. The discussion turns on how far the ownership and Cesc Fabregas have taken the club so quickly, and on what United's depleted defence means for…
How 2 podcasts covered it
- The Athletic FC Podcast, 2026-10-21 (42:35 to 45:13)
Reports from Como on the rebuilt stand and debut win
Horncastle reports from Lake Como ahead of Como's Champions League game against Manchester United, tracing the club from Serie B three years ago to a rebuilt, compliant stand and a debut win over RB Leipzig under Cesc Fabregas.
New angle: Como knocked down a stand after last season's final home game to build a Champions League compliant replacement. - The Athletic FC Podcast, 2026-10-21 (45:08 to 48:08)
Previews Como's night against an injury-hit United
Previews Como's Champions League night against Manchester United: Fabregas's minority stake, Nico Paz's transformation, and United's defensive injury crisis, with only Maguire and De Ligt fit at centre-back.
New angle: Manchester United are without Heaven, Martinez and Shaw, leaving Maguire and De Ligt as the only fit centre-backs. - Men In Blazers, 2026-10-22 (19:09 to 27:01)
Traces Como from bankruptcy to the Champions League
Traces Como's arc from two bankruptcies to the Champions League: the $850,000 purchase by the Djarum family in April 2019, three promotions in six years, and the wider plan to rebuild the town around the club. Frames Fabregas as an elite manager whose equity stake keeps Italian rivals away.
New angle: The Djarum family bought Como for $850,000 in April 2019 and have been promoted three times in six years. - Men In Blazers, 2026-10-22 (27:09 to 28:54)
Explains the Italian-player criticism of Como
Horncastle on how Como are read inside Italy: criticism over not developing Italian players when the national team struggles, and the counter that this year's signings - Kean, Ricci, Liberali - and an all-Italian second-tier squad answer it. Frames the win over United as the night Como became Italy's modernization model.
New angle: Como signed Moise Kean, Samuel Ricci and Mattia Liberali, answering criticism that they do not develop Italian players.