Special Clause Opens Door for Fabregas to Take Over at Arsenal, Chelsea or Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting and promising young managers. After guiding Como back to Serie A following a 21-year absence, the Spaniard steered the club to a remarkable fourth-place finish in their first season in the top flight, sealing qualification for the Champions League group stage. The 39-year-old is already a true icon at Como, and interest from the continent's elite clubs is only set to intensify. A potential switch to one of Europe's heavyweights could happen sooner than expected, thanks to a secret clause in his contract, which runs until June 2028.

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the clause allows him to leave on significantly discounted terms if he receives an offer from any of his former clubs: Barcelona, Arsenal, or Chelsea. In that scenario, those sides would owe only a modest compensation fee to Como should Fabregas accept the job. While a move is not imminent—Mikel Arteta has agreed a new contract at Arsenal and Hansi Flick signed fresh terms with Barcelona in May—vacancies can open up quickly. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is just beginning his tenure at Chelsea, though recent history shows managerial security at Stamford Bridge is rarely guaranteed. Chelsea had reportedly expressed interest in Fabregas in the summer, but the tactician chose to stay committed to his project at Como, where he currently feels very settled.

According to Sport, Fabregas' long-term dream is to manage Barcelona. However, Flick is under contract with the Catalan giants until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend.