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<\/p>\nFormer FC Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas is thriving in Italy as the manager of Como 1907.<\/p>\n
After spending his final year as a player at the Italian club, the 38-year-old joined the coaching staff post-retirement in 2023, initially as an assistant manager, helping them earn promotion to Serie A.<\/p>\n
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Fabregas was then made the manager from the 2024\/25 season onwards, and he has done a brilliant job, establishing himself as one of the most promising young coaches in Europe.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Como are contending for European football qualification for next season under the former Barcelona midfielder.<\/p>\n
His accomplishments with the Serie A outfit earned him the Enzo Bearzot Award this past, a prestigious annual Italian football honour to recognise the best Italian coach of the season.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony that took place on Monday, Fabregas was asked whether he saw himself as a candidate to replace Hansi Flick on the Barcelona bench.<\/p>\n
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Laughing, Fabregas ended the discussion with a direct response: \u201cHe will renew his contract\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Fabregas is doing an excellent job at Como. (Photo by Marco Luzzani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
His reply shut down any potential rumours and made it clear that, for now, his focus is 100% on his project in Italy.<\/p>\n
Fabregas, still early in his managerial career, explained that his coaching philosophy is shaped by the elite managers he worked under as a player, while also mentioning the \u2018Barcelona school\u2019 as an influence on his ideologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been very lucky to only have great coaches. I grew up in the Barcelona school and travelled a lot. I\u2019ve taken a bit from all of them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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As for his future, he firmly ruled out leaving anytime soon: \u201cWill I stay at Como? I love this place. The project is very important. I had offers last year, but I chose to stay because I feel very comfortable with what I can build here.\u201d<\/p>\n