Como's remarkable journey from the depths of Italian football's fourth tier to a Champions League meeting with Manchester United reaches its latest milestone on Wednesday night at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Seven years ago, the club were in Serie D, the part-time fourth tier, battling deep financial difficulties. Their transformation began when Indonesian businessmen and brothers Robert Budi Hartono and the late Michael Bambang Hartono took control in 2019.
From Serie D to the Champions League
Freelance journalist and Como fan Greg Whelan explained to MEN Sport how the club's fortunes changed dramatically after the takeover. "Since their takeover, the club has been able to rouse itself and pull itself up through the divisions in a remarkable fashion," Whelan said. "It wasn't immediate, it wasn't overnight. They climbed back two divisions in a fairly normal way that clubs do, having hit a little bit of success. It's only really been in the last three years or so that it has ballooned into something altogether different."
In 2024, Como were promoted back to Serie A after an impressive second half of the season in Serie B. In their first season back, they finished 10th after initially flirting with relegation. Last season, Como defied expectations by finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, taking advantage of poor finishes from AC Milan and Juventus.
Investment and Smart Recruitment
As of 2025, Forbes valued the Hartono brothers at £32.8bn. Whelan highlighted the scale of investment: "I mean, in the last three seasons alone, the last three including this season, you're talking about a spend on player fees alone of around €300m (£252.4m) and that's obviously been what's carried them up. But what you have to say at the same time is how well they've spent."
"This has not been chucking money. They are not a club that simply chucks money at it," Whelan continued. "They buy well, they invest in players, often outside of Italy, who they identify who aren't necessarily big names. If you go through the Como team now, you don't necessarily think 'these are all household names'. They're players that the club have very wisely gone and cherry-picked from Spain or Holland or wherever to do this."
In many ways, it is a model that Ineos will respect. Like Brighton and Bournemouth, Como have picked out hidden gems before the big clubs could get their hands on them.
Star Names in the Stands and Key Players
The Como team may not be crammed with household names, but their stands certainly are. Raphael Varane signed for Como after leaving United in 2024, but a knee injury on debut ended his career prematurely. After retiring, he was brought into the boardroom where he advises on youth development, education and product innovation. Thierry Henry is a minority shareholder, and manager Cesc Fabregas remains a shareholder after investing when he joined as a player.
Whelan explained the club's approach: "They do have those star names as investors on board. What the club has made no secret of doing, they even use an expression which probably isn't music to our ears in some respects, it's football tourism."
On the pitch, Nico Paz is the main danger man. The Argentinian bagged 12 goals and seven assists last season and scored again at the weekend as Como beat Fiorentina. Whelan also highlighted Tasos Douvikas: "He's fundamental as well. He's been terrific. He was joint-second-top scorer in Serie A last season, only Inter's Lautaro Martinez scored more." He added that 19-year-old Mattia Liberali, who scored on his debut, is "definitely one to look out for."
For Serie A matches, Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia holds a mere 12,000 fans, reduced to under 11,000 for Champions League games. The away supporters will be in an open-end corner, with heavy rain forecast. Como's owners plan to update the stadium in two years' time.
"It is a challenge to the squad," Whelan concluded. "They'll put their hands up themselves and say we're learning here. We're not experts. There's not a lot of Champions League experience in this squad for all the money that's been spent. The Champions League was a proper how the hell did that happen moment. They're not a club that's going to get ahead of themselves. Their ownership is too sensible for that. They know that being in the Champions League is a present, it's an adventure."
