Como, sports director Ludi: "We are talking to Real about Nico Paz. Since Cunha is staying, extension is being negotiated"

The sports director of Como **Carlalberto Ludi** spoke to _Radio Anch'Io Sport_ after the historic season of Cesc Fabregas' team, which led to qualification for the Champions League for the first time: **Was it a sporting miracle for you?** "A sporting miracle has been defined, but I don't entirely agree with it. A miracle is not based on quality, competence, hard work and culture. We had all that with the idea of improving last year's ranking. But it's true that Fabregas has hidden the cards a little, but we told ourselves in January that we could do it without pressure."

**Would the Scudetto be a miracle in a year or two?** "Today it's an unimaginable word. To be able to play for victory we have to take another giant step. I'm not talking about miracles, but about great sporting achievements. The Scudetto is unthinkable at the moment, just like perhaps the Champions League was a year ago. We will work every day to improve, that's what the owners ask of us."

**Will there be arrivals of Italian players next year?** "The UEFA rules force us to look more at the Italian market, but we have a methodological approach and a very clear game and we don't want to stray too far from it. Of course we will watch the internal market closely, but if functional players come from outside we will also take that into account. In addition, we work differently at the youth level, we try to bring in Italian talent so that the team of tomorrow can be built with players who know our football."

**What is Fabregas' situation? Do you think there will be an irresistible offer for him?** "Last year an important step was taken, given what happened in the transfer market. This year Cesc has already made it clear, we know that our journey together continues, that he is happy, he has two years left on his contract and we want to continue in continuity, also in our hope beyond next season."

**What about Nico Paz? Will you talk to Real Madrid to loan him for another year?** "With Nico I'm always in a bit of a dilemma because it doesn't depend on us. Real Madrid's will is not in our control. We'll try to talk to Real, for us it would be very important if he played another year in the same jersey in a context like the Champions League, that would help him a lot. And we hope that it's enough to get him for another year. Besides, Nico feels very comfortable here, and maybe that can play in our favor too."

**Are you expecting offers for Da Cunha?** "I can imagine offers coming, but he is our captain. Apart from the methodological aspect, he is a daily emotional guide for us, we have shared a common path, he is indispensable. Da Cunha is not on the market, we will continue with him and we are talking about extending his contract."

**Is Pirola the replacement for Diego Carlos?** "A good player who we have known for a long time. But at the moment the names are relative, I can give a positive technical assessment, but there are no negotiations. The situation of Diego, who has returned to his parent club, is being monitored. We are in the process of negotiating a contract extension with Kempf. Before we address the market, we want to clarify the internal situations."



**Do the owners of Como want to develop football in Asia?** "I'm not in their heads, but they are trying to spread a football culture in a country that has great passion and lives for football. But there is a deficit in competence and football culture that is difficult to close. They also attach great importance to women's football. I can't say what the next step will be, but I don't rule anything out."

**President Simonelli has spoken again about the possibility of making an away game in Serie A...** "This is a delicate topic, more political in nature and not so much technical. You must always start from respect for the fans who live for this sport and this passion. We have also achieved results through our fans. On the other hand, you must also understand that in 2026 it would be normal to take the Serie A product outside the borders. But this must be based on pillars that respect each other and "The timing and logic have to be right too. It's not easy, it's something that needs to be studied, but I think it should be possible for the other Serie A clubs to understand how we do it and it would be something that would benefit the whole system."

**Which of the two teams, Real Madrid or Barcelona, ​​would be more difficult for you in the Champions League?** "You mentioned two difficult teams... Any draw in the Champions League would be acceptable for us. We will approach every game with the same mentality: with courage, with energy and the goal will be to prove ourselves in Europe too."

**What is the status of the work at the Sinigaglia Stadium?** "It will be a stadium that meets the UEFA criteria and that is not a given. The owners have been working on it since the day after the end of the season and that is a sign of how our relationship with the institutions works. I hope and I think we will be ready for the start of the competitions. As for the new stadium construction, it has been talked about for a long time, I am sure that at some point it will become a reality. The local administration is very positive, and the necessary steps tend to be completed very harmoniously; if the owners have plans, they implement them.

**The statements of Baldini, who clearly refers to the non-promotion of giocatori stranieri in Italia ha espresso...** "No posso commentare le dichiarazioni del ct. Le ho lette, ma vanno contestualizzate. Nel nostro calcio c'è a gap significativo with la Premier, tutto va visto da various prospettive. Non può essere slo colpa dei dirigenti, non può essere solo colpa delle tecniche. A volte in Italy facciamo fatica a ragionare di sistema, ad avere una visione a lungo appointment. Il nostro mondo sta cambiando, ci sono conductorigenti competenti, i fondi stanno investendo in modo prepotente e quindi significa che ci sono margini di miglioramento".

**Hai un'idea del piano Malagò?** "In Lega not sono un rappresentante, ci sono persone più competenti. Sono contento perchè la Lega has posato un profilo competente, seguiamo with fiducia il suo programma e la sua leadership".

**Riduzione della Serie A a 18 squadre?** "This is an important topic not at the end. The quality of the investment second to me is always different. This is the point of view in a moment in which we serve a number of goals, serve a cultural aspect. I also have a point in the technical view sono, manca solo un po' di energia per pensare in modo diverso.