Liberali's Struggle at Como: 25 minutes played and benched for three straight matches
The former Milan prospect is struggling for playing time at Como despite Fabregas's summer commitment. The Spanish coach believes in his abilities, but patience will be key as it was for Baturina.
Mattia Liberali is accumulating bench time at Como. After an impressive preseason, the midfielder has managed just 25 minutes since the campaign began: his debut in the opening match against Udinese, a brief spell against Genoa, and that's it. Three consecutive benches against Parma, Frosinone and Roma confirm his exclusion from Fabregas's tactical plans, despite being included in the Champions League squad.
Parallels with Martin Baturina's journey offer a reassuring outlook. The Croatian arrived in June 2025 for €25 million and needed five months to make a real impact. Until January he had just ten appearances, then a stunning goal against Bologna unlocked his progress, turning him into one of Serie A's standout performers. Nicolas Kuhn's experience was different—he remained on the periphery and failed to reverse course, eventually moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach to make room for Liberali.
Fabregas has no doubts about his signing. At the Trento Sports Festival, he clarified that the choice wasn't about having Italians in the squad, but about the player's technical qualities and character. At just 20 years old with only one Serie B season behind him, Liberali has time on his side. What comes next will depend on his ability to absorb his coach's tactical demands and capitalize on the minutes he's given.