In 2016, they were bankrupt, a historic Italian club left to rot in Serie D, playing in front of a few hundred loyalists while giants like Juventus and Milan soaked up the spotlight. Fast forward to November 2025, and Como 1907 aren’t just in Serie A, they’re the most compelling story in modern football. They’re playing irresistible, free-flowing football.
They’re signing world-class players who once graced the Champions League stage. They’re hosting the most glamorous parties in Italy. They’re scouting talent through Twitter accounts that once had 20k followers and nothing but hope. This isn’t some football fairytale. This is Como 1907, the wildest, most outrageous revival the sport has ever seen.
The Billionaires Who Saw What Nobody Else Did
In April 2019, while most billionaires were busy buying superyachts and art collections, Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono, the Indonesian tobacco tycoons worth a combined $55 billion, did something completely different. They bought a bankrupt fourth-division Italian football club for pocket change.
But this wasn’t some vanity project. They saw something others didn’t see: a sleeping giant on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. So they rolled up their sleeves and built it properly. They didn’t just throw millions at aging stars. They created a blueprint.
A new training ground. A renovated stadium. A modern youth academy. Smart global partnerships. Clear identity. Real footballing vision. And they backed it with relentless ambition, turning Como 1907 into the richest club in Italian football and one of the coolest projects in Europe, a club that now attracts world-class players, plays beautiful football, and looks like the future of the sport.
Thierry Henry Gave Them Instant Credibility:
Months after the Hartonos took over, they pulled off a masterstroke: bringing Thierry Henry on board as a minority shareholder and global ambassador. Suddenly, Como 1907 wasn’t just a rich man’s passion project; it had the backing of one of football’s greatest ever forwards. Henry did more than lend his name: he opened doors, offered strategic insight, and instantly turned curiosity into belief. Players started paying attention. So did the world.
Then Cesc Fàbregas Arrived and Everything Changed:
August 2022. Cesc Fàbregas, World Cup winner, midfield genius, and Pep’s disciple, signs for Como in Serie B as a player-coach at 35.
He didn’t come to fade out. He came to build something. Within a year, he retired and took over as head coach. The results?
- Back-to-back promotions
- A return to Serie A after 21 years
- A fearless, possession-dominant style that now thrills neutrals across Europe
Fàbregas didn’t just bring tactics. He brought belief. He’s not just coaching, he’s shaping the club’s identity. Players want to play for him. Fans believe in him. The entire project revolves around his vision.
Football Meets Lifestyle: Como Turns Culture Into Currency
Lake Como already had the glamour of Clooney, yachts, and luxury brands. Como, 1907, just plugged football into it.
Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia is now more than a stadium; it’s a venue.
The Project’s Inner Circle:
Cesc Fàbregas – The heartbeat of the project. Player, coach, minority owner, and the club’s defining football architect. His tactical vision shapes everything from youth development to first-team identity.
Thierry Henry – Shareholder and global ambassador whose prestige, network, and experience elevate Como’s visibility and international pull.
Dennis Wise – Former Chelsea midfielder and key figure in football operations, ensuring structural stability and recruitment alignment behind the scenes.
Raphaël Varane – Strategic advisor focused on technology, performance optimisation, and long-term structural growth, adding elite modern insight to the project.
Rhuigi Villaseñor (RHUDE) – Chief Brand Officer, spearheading Como’s transformation into a fashion-forward, lifestyle-driven club with global cultural appeal.
Mirwan Suwarso – Representative of the ownership group and the force behind Como’s commercial strategy, overseeing marketing, partnerships, and a rapidly expanding merchandising vision.
Youth on the Rise: Meet the Next Generation of Como 1907:
Key Player Profiles:
Nico Paz: An Argentine playmaker and a key creative force for Como, wearing the number 10 jersey. Known for his goal-scoring and assists, he was named the Serie A Rising Star in August 2025 and has been central to Como’s attack. Real Madrid retains a buy-back option for the player and is highly rumored to join them next season
Máximo Perrone: The Argentine defensive midfielder’s vision, passing, and ability to recover possession are vital to Como’s midfield structure. His move from Manchester City was made permanent until 2029, highlighting the club’s trust in him.
Martin Baturina: Signed from Dinamo Zagreb, the Croatian midfielder brings technical quality and creativity to the squad.
Álex Valle: A promising young Spanish left-back who joined permanently from Barcelona in the 2025 summer transfer window, signing a contract until 2029.
Jayden Addai: A young forward signed from AZ Alkmaar in July 2025, the Dutchman adds pace and dynamism to the forward line and is part of the club’s long-term plan.
Reinforcing the Primavera with International Talent:
Como has strengthened its Primavera squad through its partnership with Ajax, adding two standout prospects in August 2025:
Lyfe Oldenstam, a Dutch U18 international left-back known for his athleticism and tactical intelligence, and Miguel João da Silva, a Portuguese winger whose pace and creativity add cutting edge to the attack.
Building from the Ground Up with Italian and Long-Term Prospects:
The club is also prioritising young Italian talents and high-upside internationals. Lorenzo Bonsignori, an Italian midfielder from Atalanta’s academy, joined the Primavera in August 2025 and has already made his senior debut in the Coppa Italia.
Meanwhile, Adam Asfour, a French U17 international born in 2009, arrived in July 2025 as an ambitious signing that highlights the club’s long-term developmental focus.
A Clear Strategy for Sustained Success:
By combining first-team-ready young signings with a strong pipeline of international and domestic youth prospects, Como is laying the foundation for a sustainable, competitive future in Serie A.
Veteran Steel Behind the Rise: How Morata, Moreno, and Diego Carlos Are Powering Como’s 2025 Project
Álvaro Morata has become the headline veteran of Como’s 2025 project, bringing Champions League pedigree, elite movement, and high-level finishing to a young, ambitious squad. His arrival — backed by his history with Fàbregas — instantly raised the team’s profile and gave Como a proven match-winner capable of mentoring their emerging forwards.
Alberto Moreno: strengthens the left flank with invaluable experience from Liverpool and Villarreal. His composure in build-up, speed in transition, and ability to guide younger defenders make him a tactical pillar in a system that relies heavily on full-back intelligence and overlapping width.
Diego Carlos: adds the final layer of veteran backbone. The former Sevilla and Aston Villa centre-back brings physical dominance, leadership, and top-level defensive reading, anchoring the back line while setting standards for discipline and organisation. His presence accelerates Como’s transition from a promoted side to a stable Serie A force.
Collectively, these experienced figures provide the stability, mentality, and know-how needed to complement Como’s young core, ensuring the club’s ambitious long-term project has a strong, seasoned foundation.
Digital Eyes on Lake Como: The Club Turning Tweets into Talent:
In a move that feels ripped straight from a social media thread, Como 1907 has completely reinvented scouting by hiring analysts from X (formerly Twitter). Among them are Felix Johnston, Take a look at Felix (@FelixJohnston_), who gained recognition dissecting Chelsea’s youth talent online, and Ben Mattinson, a data-driven tactician known for uncovering hidden gems in global football.
Rather than relying solely on traditional, aging scouting networks, Como now empowers young analysts who once posted long-form threads about overlooked players and pays them to produce professional evaluation reports. Johnston, for instance, reportedly identified Deinner Ordóñez, a 16-year-old midfielder from Independiente del Valle, as a standout talent (now at Chelsea). Meanwhile, Mattinson has been credited with spotting rising stars such as Dean Huijsen (now at Real Madrid) and Cristhian Mosquera (signed by Arsenal).
It’s a truly 2025‑era approach: data, passion, and social media savvy converging in one scouting department. And it’s working. Instead of spending millions on traditional networks, Como is unearthing top-tier prospects at a fraction of the cost by trusting new voices from the digital age.
From youth prospects to veteran leadership, from innovative scouting to global partnerships, Como 1907 is no longer just a club on the rise; it’s a blueprint for modern football ambition. With a clear vision, cutting-edge strategies, and a mix of talent, experience, and digital ingenuity, the club is proving that Serie A success isn’t just about money or tradition. On the shores of Lake Como, a new era is unfolding, one where smart investment, creativity, and bold thinking turn dreams into results, and where the future of Italian football is being quietly, brilliantly rewritten.
