Liberali off Fabregas's radar: a new Baturina or a new Kuhn?

On September 4, during the away trip to Genoa's Ferraris stadium, a familiar name on Como's bench was once again not called upon. It was the third consecutive match Liberali sat out in an official Como fixture this season. Three matches, not a single minute played. A 19-year-old attacking midfielder signed for €6 million from Catanzaro in mid-July has now vanished from Cesc Fabregas's radar.

A young player missing three consecutive matches is not earth-shattering news. But for Liberali, once considered one of the brightest talents in AC Milan's academy before his move to Catanzaro, this absence raises a question that is far from small: Is this a new Baturina waiting for his moment, or a new Kuhn waiting for his exit?

Context: When Fabregas's system isn't for everyone

To understand Liberali's story, it must be placed in the broader context of Como under Fabregas. Unlike many mid-table Serie A sides, Como plays a brand of football that demands extreme positional discipline. Fabregas, once the brain of Barcelona and Arsenal at their peak, built a system based on strict ball control, trigger-based pressing, and most importantly, the ability to read the game off the ball. In that system, an attacking midfielder doesn't just need good individual technique. He needs to understand when to move, when to hold position, when to press, and when to drop back to support the lower lines.

That is precisely why Baturina, signed from Dinamo Zagreb for a total of €25 million (€18 million upfront, €7 million in add-ons), took five months to adapt. During those five months, Baturina was constantly reminded by Fabregas on the training ground about his positioning and defensive responsibilities. Only in the first half of last season did he truly explode and become an indispensable figure. Baturina is now 23, with Champions League and Europa League experience. Liberali is 19, with just one Serie B season to his name.

The gap in pedigree between the two is enormous. But both were signed according to the same philosophy: recruit young talent, develop, increase value, and if necessary, sell. Kuhn, once equally highly rated, was sold to Borussia Mönchengladbach to free up squad space. That is how Como operates.

Analysis: Where is Liberali in his development arc?

Three matches on the bench doesn't mean Liberali has failed. But it reflects a harsh reality: at Como, a starting spot isn't given—it must be earned. Those currently playing in Como's attack are players who have proven they can perform at a high level. They are not young players learning the ropes. They are players accustomed to pressure, who know how to make a difference in matches where a single action can decide the points.

Liberali, with one Serie B season and a €6 million price tag, is on an entirely different rung. He arrived at Como as a young player with potential, not an established star. In Fabregas's system, potential is not rewarded with playing time. It is rewarded with understanding of the system. Fabregas is not the type of coach to place trust in a young player simply because he has good technique. He places trust in players who understand their role, know when to move, and never leave gaps behind them.

This explains why Liberali hasn't played. But the bigger question is: Does he have enough patience to wait for his chance? And does Fabregas have enough patience to wait for him to mature?

The answer lies in how Fabregas handled Baturina and Kuhn. With Baturina, Fabregas was patient for five months because he believed in the Croatian's ability to adapt. With Kuhn, Fabregas was patient for a time, but when the player couldn't convert ability into system understanding, he let him go. It's a two-sided policy: nurture during the learning phase, but be decisive when learning doesn't translate into action.

With Liberali, Fabregas is still in the nurturing phase. His public statement at the Festival dello Sport was a clear signal: "We didn't sign him just because he's Italian, but because of how he plays." That's not just encouragement. It's a statement of long-term expectation. Fabregas also praised Liberali's personality and ability to play in unfavourable situations. In the language of a coach who prioritizes tactical discipline, "personality" and "ability to play in difficult situations" are qualities valued above pure technique.

Liberali's story isn't just the story of a young player waiting for his chance. It's the story of a demanding development system where every player, regardless of transfer fee or reputation, must start from zero. At Como, the No. 10 shirt isn't given. It must be earned through understanding, patience, and training sessions no one sees.

Liberali's three matches on the bench are a question mark. But they are also an opportunity. An opportunity to prove he is not the next Kuhn, but the next Baturina. An opportunity to prove that the €6 million Como spent isn't just a talent gamble, but an investment in growth.

But to grow, he needs to play. And to play, he needs to understand. It's a closed loop every young player at Como must break through.

Contrarian Angle: Technology cannot replace patience

In modern football, people talk about data, about xG, about PPDA, about measurable numbers. But Liberali's story doesn't lie in those numbers. No xG can measure the time needed for a 19-year-old to learn how to hold position in Fabregas's system. No PPDA metric can measure the number of training sessions an attacking midfielder needs to understand when to press, when to drop back. That's a gap technology cannot fill.

At Como, the decision to play Liberali isn't made based on an algorithm. It's made based on observation, on the coaching staff's assessment, on what happens in training sessions no camera records. It's a purely human-driven process. And like any human-driven process, it can be right or wrong. Fabregas may be right to believe Liberali needs more time. Or he may be wrong, and Liberali could be a wasted talent.

But one thing is certain: If Fabregas is wrong, it will be the mistake of a human, not the mistake of a system. And if he's right, it will be the success of patience, not of data.

In football, people remember the goals, the assists, the moments of brilliance. But few remember the 6 AM training sessions, the reminders about positioning, the times sitting on the bench watching teammates play. That's the submerged part of the iceberg. And that's exactly where Liberali is.

The question isn't whether Liberali has talent. The question is whether he has enough patience to wait for his chance, and whether Como's coaching staff has enough patience to wait for him to mature. In a world where everything is measured by instant results, patience is becoming a more valuable asset than talent itself.

Takeaway: Lessons from Baturina and Kuhn

Como's history under Fabregas reveals a clear pattern: not every young talent succeeds, but every young talent is given a chance to succeed. Baturina needed five months. Kuhn needed less, but not enough to adapt. Liberali is at the beginning of that process.

What matters isn't that Liberali has sat out three matches. What matters is what he does in the next three months. If he understands the system, if he proves his adaptability, he will get his chance. If not, he will follow Kuhn's path.

In football, nothing is guaranteed. But one thing is certain: at Como, opportunities don't come to you. They must be earned. And Liberali, with all his potential, stands at the most important crossroads of his career.

His story will be written on the training ground, not on the bench. And the one writing that story will be himself.