Cesc Fabregas has been given the green light to take over at Manchester United, with Como president Mirwan Suwarso stating the club would not stand in his way if the Premier League side come calling.
Fabregas has overseen a rapid rise at the Italian club, who host United on Tuesday after qualifying for the Champions League for the first time. His impressive start to life in management has drawn high-profile interest, with the former midfielder linked to the Chelsea job in the summer before Xabi Alonso's appointment and seen as a potential future boss at Barcelona, where he also played.
Should Michael Carrick fail to turn the tide following a poor start to the season, Fabregas would be a strong candidate to take over at Old Trafford.
Fabregas refuses to answer Carrick question
Prior to the game, Fabregas fended off questions about succeeding Carrick, insisting: "As you can understand, I won't answer that question because I think that's not a very nice question.
"I don't think that shows enough respect to a great footballer and manager like Michael Carrick at the helm of a wonderful Manchester United side."
Como president confirms stance
Nevertheless, Suwarso has stated on multiple occasions that he would not prevent Fabregas from departing if an opportunity at a club such as United materialised. Speaking during the summer amid the Chelsea speculation, Suwarso told City AM: "If that makes him happy, that's him.
"You want your employees to stay with you for as long as possible but at the end of the day, we don't own him and he's free to go to Chelsea if he wishes."
Earlier this month, during an appearance on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored, Suwarso was questioned about whether his contract contained a clause permitting him to join Arsenal, Chelsea or Barcelona should they come knocking. He responded: "He doesn't need a clause to go anywhere wherever he wants.
"In a business like this, Cesc Fabregas is a friend more than anything else. He can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants.
"So if tomorrow he gets a call, or he calls me, and says, 'Hey, I want to go to Leverkusen tomorrow' – for example – I would say, 'Is there something that you want to do? Then yeah go.' I don't need any compensation."
Fabregas plays down United crisis
Fabregas played down suggestions of a crisis at United, whose arrival at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia marks a "historic day once again for the club, the city of Como and fanbase."
He continued: "Man United is a historical club that I know very, very well. We have so much respect for who they are, for what they do, because they have incredible players, good staff.
"I know [United assistant] Steve Holland very well because I worked with him for years at Chelsea and I know Michael has done really well in previous clubs as well.
"Last year, he did really well bringing Manchester United back to where they belong, which is the Champions League, for the first time in many years, so not everything is that bad. It's a big honour to host them for the first time in our history."
