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Cesc Fabregas has been tipped as a potential future Arsenal manager, with reports suggesting the former Gunners captain has his sights set on a return to north London rather than Stamford Bridge.
The 38-year-old is currently impressing in his first senior management role at Como, guiding the Italian side to fifth place in Serie A and within three points of Champions League qualification.
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According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, there are suggestions that managing Arsenal forms part of Fabregas’ long-term career plans, while a move to Chelsea appears less likely.
“Cesc Fabregas, what I’ve been told, there’s some kind of suggestion that long-term, the plan for him is to manage Arsenal one day,” Solhekol stated on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast. “I’m not sure moving to Chelsea would be part of his career progression.”
Como success fuels speculation
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Fabregas took charge of Como on an interim basis in 2023 when the club was in Serie A’s second tier. He quickly guided them to promotion and has continued to impress in Italy’s top flight.
The former Spain international’s rapid rise in management has inevitably led to speculation about his future, with both his former Premier League clubs previously linked with interest.
Como sporting director Ludi recently addressed the mounting speculation, telling Sport Mediaset: “We’re calm. We’re focused on these next few games. We’re incredibly aligned with Cesc but we can’t predict the future. However, I’m sure that we will continue this journey together.”
Strong Arsenal connection
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Fabregas’ connection to Arsenal runs deep. The midfielder left Barcelona’s academy to join the Gunners as a teenager and went on to make 303 appearances for the club, captaining the side and winning an FA Cup during his eight-year stint in north London.
After returning to Barcelona, Fabregas later joined Chelsea in 2014 under Jose Mourinho. Across 198 appearances for the Blues, he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and one Europa League.
Despite his success at Stamford Bridge, the Sky Sports report suggests Fabregas views Arsenal as a more natural fit for his managerial ambitions.
With Mikel Arteta currently firmly established as Arsenal manager, any potential return for Fabregas would be a long-term prospect. For now, the former midfielder continues building his reputation in Italy, where Como’s impressive campaign has established him as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches.