Fabregas has Arsenal clause in Como contract, says Di Marzio

Credit: Getty Images

Cesc Fabregas' contract at Como reportedly contains an exit clause that would allow him to leave for a select group of elite clubs — and Arsenal are among the names written into it.

The former Gunners captain has turned himself into one of the most sought-after young coaches in Europe since taking over at Como, guiding the Italian side into the UEFA Champions League after initially stepping in as interim boss.

Speaking to Betarades.gr, Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio outlined the specific terms attached to Fabregas' deal in Lombardy, and the list of clubs that could trigger it.

The clause explained

"Fabregas will leave only Como for a super top club like Barcelona or Arsenal, but they've renewed the contract of Flick and Arsenal are obviously happy with Arteta," Di Marzio said. "I don't see him going to the first top club that needs him."

"He's like a calculator. He knows that he will coach one of these top clubs. He's not in a hurry because, even last year, he said no to Inter, no to AS Roma, he said no to Bayer Leverkusen, and also Como didn't want to let him go."

"He had an exit clause for top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona, so it depends on which of these clubs will begin to struggle. Everything can change. I think the problem for Como will be finding a new Fabregas, a new coach with his charisma, with his leadership, with his ideas, with his vision."

Di Marzio also identified Sassuolo's Alberto Aquilani as a name Como could look at should Fabregas eventually move on, describing him as one of the coaches in Italy attempting to play in a similar style.

Arteta's position

Any Arsenal angle remains firmly hypothetical for now. Mikel Arteta is expected to sign a new contract at the Emirates that would take him beyond 2029, making a change in the dugout unlikely in the near future.

Arteta himself has been linked with appreciation from Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona over the years, and whenever he does eventually move on, the club's hierarchy will face a decision on whether to once again turn to someone with a deep understanding of Arsenal's identity.

Fabregas has made no secret of his admiration for how the club has been run. Speaking after Como's 1-1 pre-season draw at the Emirates Stadium, he praised the patience shown by the Arsenal board.

"Because what you see in football every day, what Arsenal did, especially in the difficult moments, it doesn't exist," he said. "I told Edu, I told Andrea (Berta) when I came last year to a Champions League game, I said congratulations to the whole club for the patience, for sticking together, for sticking to the plan when for three years in a row."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, finished eighth, eighth, eighth, fourth year nearly Champions League, it was a big disappointment, Tottenham came, you finish fifth, but you keep going because you have a plan, because you have an objective, because you have progression, you keep going forward."

"We lack this in football today. You lose three games, change the coach, he was playing one style, now you play another, at the end of the day, I don't believe in this a lot."

For now, Fabregas stays at Como, and Arsenal's focus remains on tying Arteta down to fresh terms. The clause, however, is on record — and it will keep the conversation alive for as long as it exists.