"Our relationship with Real Madrid is excellent. The foundation is not just the relationship itself, but the valuable connections we have built." These were the words of Karl-Alberto Ludi in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Como sporting director discussed some of the transfer dealings behind the scenes that link Como and the White Team, including the transfer of Nico Paz.
"It's a win-win situation," Ludi described. "We had the opportunity to bet on a player with immense potential, and they believed in a tactical and technical plan, thanks also to the credibility and ability of Fàbregas. What we've achieved with Real Madrid, we've also done with other teams."
Como's young players - one of Como's great strengths is developing talented players. "This year, the proportion of playing time for these young players is significantly higher than in recent seasons, which is a very good sign for Serie A," Ludi emphasized. "This bridge with Real Madrid could become an opportunity for our football's growth and value increase."
The blue and white club was often criticized in the past for over-relying on foreign players and giving too few opportunities to local talents. Now, the trend is changing, as confirmed by the sporting director himself: "For us, despite the criticism, a key point is to start with Italian players. I think of Papaccioli, who experienced a moment full of celebration and joy in the Champions League (this refers to an interview with a former coach)... but I also think of Cassano being called up to the national team, just to give a few examples."
Nico Paz's future - among the talents who came to Como from Madrid is Jacobo Ramón. Real Madrid has a buy-back option, but Ludi assured that the Spaniard will remain with the blue and white team at least until the end of the season. "When we were negotiating for Nico Paz, we updated his situation, and he will certainly stay with us for the entire season," he confirmed. "It's too early to judge his future now."
Is Como already planning transfer moves for January? "We will assess the market for players with less playing time who might leave, depending on the situation," said the sporting director. "Regarding new signings, we don't plan any amazing moves; we will only evaluate opportunities."
Regarding the title race - finally, Ludi commented on Como's hopes of competing for the Serie A title: "We've just had an extraordinary start to the season. Our challenge is to remain competitive in matches played every three days, and I think our Champions League journey proves that we have achieved this."
The sporting director also praised Internazionale, who defeated the blue and white team 2-0 in the last league round: "Internazionale is the strongest team in Italy, and they approached the match in a very excellent way. We need to improve and grow, and this doesn't surprise us. I am confident that we will also learn from the last match."