Cesc Fábregas is building legend status as a manager and not just a footballer after he has lifted Italian club Como to the top four in Serie A and Champions League qualification.
The Catalan coach is among the hottest names on the coaching front and is on the agenda of several big clubs.
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Cesc Fàbregas has a clause in his contract with Como 1907 that gives FC Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea the right to hire him as manager in return for a fixed fee. His three former clubs can thus bring him out of Italy without having to negotiate his departure with Como in advance.
The exact amount to activate this contract condition has not been disclosed. The clause provides a direct route for one of the three teams to bring Fàbregas back if they decide to bet on him on the bench.
Cesc Fàbregas has an open door back to FC Barcelona
As reported by AS, this situation has particular significance for FC Barcelona. Hansi Flick is still in charge of the team, and the club is happy with his work – but they are also considering long-term scenarios for the coaching bench, with Fàbregas’ name having popped up in recent weeks.
Sergio Busquets spoke earlier this month about this very possibility. The former midfielder, who currently assists Juliano Belletti in the Barcelona B team, believes that his former teammate is on a path that could lead him to become Barcelona coach in the future.
The clause will remove a significant obstacle in a potential operation. If Barça decide to hire Cesc Fàbregas, they don’t have to first strike a financial deal with Como 1907 – they just pay the stipulated amount in his contract.
There are currently no open negotiations to replace Flick. The German coach continues his duties as usual, and the team has started the 2026/27 season with seven wins in the first seven matchdays of LaLiga, as well as a 5-1 win against Feyenoord in their Champions League debut.
Arsenal and Chelsea could also activate the clause
Arsenal have exactly the same contractual option. Fàbregas knows the club well after 303 official appearances during his time as a player in London between 2003 and 2011, before returning to Barcelona.
The third team to be included is Chelsea, where he played from 2014 to 2019. Therefore, any move from London will have different conditions than for other clubs interested in hiring the manager: both Arsenal and Chelsea can rely on the predetermined amount.
The clause takes on increased importance due to Fàbregas’ development since he started his coaching career. The 39-year-old coach led Como to Serie A and then qualified the Italian team for the 2026/27 Champions League.
The Italian project has also continued to strengthen this summer. Como signed, among others, Luis Milla from Getafe with a contract until 2029. The midfielder had provided 10 assists in 37 LaLiga games last season.
Como 1907 loses bargaining power
The unique contractual aspect limits the room for manoeuvre of Como 1907 if any of Fàbregas’ former teams decide to make a switch. Unlike other potential suitors, the Italian club was free to negotiate the terms of an exit – but with Barcelona, Arsenal or Chelsea, the amount has already been set.
As of now, there is no information that any of the three clubs have initiated an operation to hire him. The situation will depend on what happens to their respective benches, especially at Barcelona in terms of Flick’s continuity.
The next step is therefore contingent on a decision by one of these clubs. If FC Barcelona, Arsenal or Chelsea call on Cesc Fàbregas, the clause allows his departure to be activated with a predetermined amount – the specific value of which is not stated – without the need for conventional negotiations with Como.
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