Inside Como’s New-Look Attacking Midfield

Note: This article is a translation of the original Italian version, which was published on our blog on July 5, 2025. Some information may no longer be up to date.

Como’s transfer campaign has picked up exactly where last season left off—on a vertical upward curve that perfectly reflects the club’s ambition to climb the ranks of Italian football at breakneck speed. To the question, “How many wingers and attacking midfielders do you want to buy?”, Como’s answer is simply: “Yes.” It’s only July 4th, and the Larian club have already completed the signings of Martin Baturina, the talented No.10 from Dinamo Zagreb; Jesús Rodríguez, winger and jewel of Real Betis; Jayden Addai, a promising wide man from AZ Alkmaar; and are just waiting for the official confirmation of Nicolas Kühn, the Celtic playmaker. All told, the spending is close to €100 million.

These four new faces in the final third—each extremely young, promising, and with room to grow—join an already packed and talented department. Alongside the confirmed presence of gem Nico Paz, the versatile Da Cunha (who has dropped deeper on the pitch), and the enigmatic Dele Alli in the central attacking role, Como also have Diao and Strefezza out wide (with Fadera on his way out and young Iraqi Ali Jasim likely to go on loan). In short, seven or eight players will be fighting for just three spots. For us, leaving that much talent on the bench is painful; for Cesc, deciding who plays each week will be pure torment. But first, it’s worth breaking down each zone of the pitch to navigate this offensive traffic and figure out how Como’s attack might look next season.

Como’s No.10 Role: Paz and/or Baturina

The signing of Martin Baturina, a pure No.10 born in 2003 who scored 6 goals and provided 12 assists between the Croatian league and the Champions League last season, initially suggested that Como wouldn’t be able to keep last year’s best young player in Serie A. But Nico Paz is staying another year to mesmerize the shores of Lake Como. Which other Italian club can boast such a high-quality, youthful duel in a single position?

Probably none. Similar in duties but different in style and preferred areas of the pitch, Paz and Baturina could even play together: the Argentine is more muscular and complete, used to cutting inside from the right to left, always ready for the killer play (a through ball or long-range shot). The Croatian is shorter, more associative, and has a knack for the decisive pass from the left half-space. Despite Paz being untouchable at the heart of Fàbregas’ attacking mechanisms, Baturina’s vision and link-up play mean he will surely find space—whether as Paz’s deputy, a left-sided attacking midfielder, or a false No.8 in the Da Cunha mould.

Como’s Right Wing: Kühn and Addai

The right side is even more crowded, though a pecking order is easier to define. The arrival of Nicolas Kühn, a German winger born in 2000, brings in a player ready to claim the starting spot. Fresh off a season with 21 goals and 15 assists, the former Celtic man is a mercurial No.10 who beats his man with ease and loves to start wide before cutting in onto his left foot, from where he can thread killer passes or curl shots toward the far post. The Scottish Premiership is not Serie A, so a normal adjustment period might be needed—but the player’s quality is unquestionable.

Challenging him will be Jayden Addai, a left-footed winger born in 2005, signed from AZ for €14 million. He made 17 appearances last season (just 3 starts) and scored 1 goal. Still raw, the Dutchman brings qualities missing on that flank: explosive one-on-one power, blistering bursts of pace, and the tendency to drift inside to make the decisive play. He could become a lethal weapon off the bench.

So, what formation will Como play?

The arrival of Alvaro Morata seems imminent, and the squad also includes Cutrone, Douvikas, and Belotti—though at least two of them will depart. The likely plan is to stick with the 4-2-3-1, keeping a reference point up front: not necessarily a prolific scorer, but a striker who can move, link up with teammates, and make the most of the creativity and scoring ability of the attacking midfielders behind him.

That said, Fàbregas’ mind is constantly whirring with ideas, so anything is possible. A system he often used late last season was the 4-3-3, with Nico Paz as a false nine and an extra creative midfielder in the middle. That’s even more feasible now given the abundance, quality, and versatility of his attacking options. It wouldn’t even be surprising to see Diao used as the central striker in a match plan built to exploit depth runs. With such a wealth of alternatives, a visionary artist like Cesc will have a palette already stocked with every colour he needs to paint in all kinds of shades. We can’t wait to admire the finished masterpiece.