Como Reshapes Squad Ahead of Champions League
Como are cutting and carving their squad on the eve of a European adventure. The Champions League draw has handed the Lariani a serious examination, and the response from the boardroom has been swift: one striker out, a defender moved on, and a midfield bet placed on a player who never quite caught fire at Milan.
Morata moves on
Alvaro Morata’s Como chapter pauses after just one season. The Spanish forward has officially joined Leganes on loan, a deal that includes an option to buy at the end of the campaign.
It’s a clean, strategic decision. Como need to trim numbers and wages, and Morata, with his experience and status, becomes the logical sacrifice. Leganes get a proven top-level striker; Como gain room to maneuver.
Van der Brempt to Sassuolo
On the right flank, another piece drops into place. Ignace van der Brempt is heading to Sassuolo, with multiple Italian outlets, including Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia, confirming the agreement.
This is not a simple try-before-you-buy. Sassuolo take him on loan with an obligation to buy, a package worth €6.5m in total. For Como, it’s guaranteed money down the line and one fewer decision to make next summer.
Sassuolo had also tracked Rafik Belghali of Hellas Verona, but the winger now appears to be veering towards Torino. So Van der Brempt becomes their chosen project at full-back, while Como quietly bank a future fee.
Ricci’s second chance
The outgoing traffic is balanced by a significant incoming move. Samuele Ricci arrived today to undergo medical tests, as Como push through a deal with Milan for the midfielder.
The structure is clear: a loan at €1.5m, with an option to buy at the end of the season for another €22m plus performance-related bonuses. For a club like Como, that option figure is no small gesture. It signals intent.
Ricci was a major outlay for Milan when he left Torino last summer for €23m plus bonuses. He never truly became a fixture at San Siro, managing only 34 appearances and a single goal. The talent is there; the impact never quite matched the investment.
Now he walks into a very different environment. At Como, he is not a luxury rotation piece. He is a potential cornerstone of a midfield that must cope with domestic pressure and the unforgiving rhythm of Champions League nights.
Como’s market work in these final days is not about headlines. It is about balance sheets, squad size, and a clear idea of who can carry the weight of a season that suddenly looks much bigger than anything this club has faced in years.
