CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Como 1907 |
| League | Serie A |
| Manager | Cesc Fàbregas |
| Stadium | Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia |
| Nickname | I Lariani |
| Founded | 1907 |
| First Choice | Jean Butez |
| Summer Signing | Robert Sánchez (loan from Chelsea) |
| Departure | Emil Audero (loan to Rayo Vallecano) |
| Current League Position | 5th (23 points from 11 matches) |
The Defining Moment
Como 1907’s goalkeeping department entered 2026/27 in a state of unexpected upheaval. The club had been satisfied with its hierarchy: Jean Butez as the undisputed starter, Emil Audero and Noel Törnqvist as deputies. Cesc Fàbregas had no plans to sign a goalkeeper. Then, five days before the transfer window closed, everything changed.
The defining moment came not on the pitch, but in a conversation. Törnqvist, the Swedish goalkeeper, informed Fàbregas that he wanted to leave. The timing was catastrophic. Como had just qualified for the Champions League league phase, and the squad needed depth, not departures. “I was very honest and told him that I understood, but if we didn’t find anyone, he had to stay,” Fàbregas recalled. “He came back to me a day after the Champions League draw, and I saw a different person from the one I had seen in the previous eight months. Honestly, it was a bad thing. I didn’t like it, and people need to know that this choice was made because he desperately wanted to leave.”
The club moved quickly. Robert Sánchez, Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper from the previous season, was available on loan. Como secured him within two days. The arrival of the Spanish international immediately altered the hierarchy. Audero, the Indonesian international, saw his path to minutes blocked and departed on loan to Rayo Vallecano. Mauro Vigorito, a 36-year-old veteran, was signed to provide third-choice cover and mentorship.
This is the story of Como’s 2026/27 goalkeepers: a French sweeper-keeper who has owned the position for two seasons, a Spanish international signed in emergency circumstances, and a supporting cast of veterans and prospects navigating a hierarchy that changed overnight.
Tactical Context
Fàbregas’s Como is a team built on possession and control. The Spanish coach, who took over in 2024 and led the club to promotion and then Champions League qualification, has constructed a side that averages 59% possession in Serie A. The goalkeeper in this system is not merely a shot-stopper; he is the first passer, the player who initiates build-up and must be comfortable with the ball at his feet under pressure.
Butez embodies this profile. The 31-year-old Frenchman is classified as a sweeper-keeper, a goalkeeper who plays high, commands the space behind the defence and starts attacks with his distribution. His pass accuracy places him in the top 15% of Serie A goalkeepers, and his passing volume in the top 20%. In the opening phase of the season, he completed 76.7% of his passes, including 37.5% of his long balls.
The numbers reflect a goalkeeper who is integral to Como’s build-up rather than a bystander in it. Across nine appearances in all competitions, Butez has played 810 minutes, conceding eight goals and keeping two clean sheets. His Serie A record is particularly impressive: seven matches, six goals conceded, two clean sheets, and an average match rating of 6.85 to 7.09 depending on the source. For a team sitting fifth in the table with 23 points from 11 matches, that reliability has been foundational.
Sánchez’s arrival was not an indictment of Butez’s form. It was an insurance policy. “Jean has had no competition in recent years and has raised our level,” Fàbregas said. “Now we have two great goalkeepers who must fight like everyone else. I spoke with Jean, and he accepted it as a challenge.”
The Goalkeepers
Jean Butez
Butez is the undisputed number one and the player upon whom Como’s defensive structure depends. The 31-year-old Frenchman arrived from Royal Antwerp in January 2025 for a modest €2 million fee, a transfer that has proven to be one of the club’s most astute acquisitions. In his first full season, 2025/26, he started 38 Serie A matches, kept 19 clean sheets, and posted an average rating of 7.07.
His profile is that of the modern sweeper-keeper. Standing 188 centimetres, he is not the most physically imposing presence, but his positioning, distribution, and command of the space behind his defence compensate for any physical limitations. He is aggressive in claiming crosses, comfortable stepping outside his box to clear danger, and precise in his long passing. His weakest attribute, according to scouting analysis, is traditional shot-stopping, but his overall contribution to Como’s possession game outweighs any limitations in that area.
The numbers from 2026/27 reflect his importance. He has started every Serie A match, completing 630 minutes, conceding six goals, and keeping two clean sheets. His save percentage of 66.7% is respectable without being exceptional, and his goals prevented metric of -0.43 suggests he has conceded slightly more than the quality of shots faced would predict. But for a goalkeeper whose value lies in what he does with the ball and how he organises the space in front of him, those metrics tell only part of the story.
At 31, Butez is in his prime. His contract runs until June 2030, and his market value has risen to approximately €8.6 million. The arrival of Sánchez has introduced competition where none existed, but Fàbregas’s public statements and the early-season selections suggest that Butez remains the first choice, particularly in Serie A.
Robert Sánchez
Sánchez is the emergency signing who arrived with a pedigree that few backup goalkeepers possess. The 28-year-old Spaniard was Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper for much of the previous season and has represented Spain at international level. Standing 197 centimetres, he offers a more physically imposing presence than Butez, with a reach and command of the box that his French teammate lacks.
His arrival was not planned. When Törnqvist forced his departure, Como needed a goalkeeper with experience and quality, and Sánchez was available. The loan deal was completed swiftly, and Sánchez found himself in a hierarchy where the incumbent had done nothing to lose his place.
The early evidence suggests a rotation is emerging. Fàbregas has spoken of “two great goalkeepers who must fight,” and the implication is that Butez will start in Serie A while Sánchez may be used in the Champions League and cup competitions. Whether that division holds across the season remains to be seen. Sánchez did not join Como to sit on the bench, and his quality is such that a single Butez error could shift the balance.
Mauro Vigorito
Vigorito is the veteran third choice, a 36-year-old who arrived to provide cover and mentorship after Audero’s departure. His role is not to challenge for the starting position but to train professionally, support the younger goalkeepers, and be ready in an emergency. At 36, he is in the final phase of his career, and his presence reflects Como’s need for experience and stability in a department that was thrown into chaos by Törnqvist’s late departure.
Lorenzo Ginelli and Henrique Menke
Ginelli, a 17-year-old from Saronno, and Menke, a 19-year-old Brazilian, are the academy and development options in the goalkeeping department. Neither is expected to feature for the first team this season. Their presence is a reflection of Como’s commitment to maintaining a full complement of goalkeepers and developing internal solutions, even if the immediate future of the position lies with Butez and Sánchez.
The Numbers Game
Table A: Como Goalkeeper Serie A Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals Against | Clean Sheets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Butez | 7 (7) | 630 | 6 | 2 | First choice in Serie A |
| Robert Sánchez | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Joined late August; rotation option |
| Mauro Vigorito | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Third choice |
Table B: Como Goalkeeper Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Butez Goals Against per 90 | 0.86 | In Serie A |
| Butez Save Percentage | 66.7% | In Serie A |
| Butez Pass Accuracy | 76.7% | All competitions |
| Team Goals Against per Game | 0.91 | 10 conceded in 11 matches |
| Butez Contract Expiry | June 2030 | Long-term security |
Table C: Goalkeeper Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Butez | France | Royal Antwerp, Mouscron, Lille | Sweeper-keeper, distribution, command of space |
| Robert Sánchez | Spain | Chelsea, Brighton | Tall, commanding, international experience, shot-stopper |
| Mauro Vigorito | Italy | Various Serie B clubs | Veteran cover, mentorship |
| Lorenzo Ginelli | Italy | Como Academy | Development prospect |
| Henrique Menke | Brazil | Como Academy | Development prospect |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Como’s goalkeeping unit is a study in unexpected depth. The club entered the season with a settled hierarchy and no intention of signing a goalkeeper. By the end of the transfer window, they had two international-class options, a veteran third choice, and two academy prospects. The chaos of Törnqvist’s departure produced, paradoxically, a stronger department than the one that existed before.
The numbers tell a story of adequacy rather than excellence. Butez’s 0.86 goals against per 90 and 66.7% save percentage are respectable but not exceptional. He is not a goalkeeper who wins points single-handedly; he is one who facilitates the system in front of him. In a team that dominates possession and limits the quality of chances opponents create, that is precisely what is required.
The competition between Butez and Sánchez is the season’s most intriguing subplot. Fàbregas has been careful to frame it as a healthy rivalry rather than a crisis, but the reality is that two goalkeepers of comparable quality cannot both play. The early indications suggest Butez will retain the Serie A starting role while Sánchez is used in Europe. If that division holds, Como will have navigated a difficult situation with minimal disruption. If it does not, the goalkeeping department could become a source of instability rather than strength.
The January window is unlikely to see changes. Butez is under contract until 2030, Sánchez is on loan until the end of the season, and Vigorito provides adequate cover. The priority is to maintain the current equilibrium and hope that neither goalkeeper’s confidence is damaged by the rotation.
The Verdict from the Camp
Cesc Fàbregas, on the goalkeeping upheaval:
“We never considered signing anyone. Five days ago, Törnqvist told me he had some options. I was very honest and told him that I understood, but if we didn’t find anyone, he had to stay. He came back to me a day after the Champions League draw, and I saw a different person from the one I had seen in the previous eight months. Honestly, it was a bad thing. I didn’t like it, and people need to know that this choice was made because he desperately wanted to leave. The club found another goalkeeper in two days, they had the chance to sign Sánchez at Chelsea, he accepted immediately.”
Fàbregas, on the Butez-Sánchez dynamic:
“Jean has had no competition in recent years and has raised our level. Now we have two great goalkeepers who must fight like everyone else. I spoke with Jean, and he accepted it as a challenge. I’m not worried; he’s phenomenal.”
Fàbregas, on the hierarchy:
“We are at a high level even in goal, we have to rotate for the many matches. Sánchez is a great goalkeeper, Chelsea’s starter, Spanish international, we know we have two great goalkeepers, I feel very good with both.”
Where Next?
Como’s goalkeeping priority is clear: they need Butez and Sánchez to coexist without disrupting the team’s equilibrium. The Frenchman has been the foundation of the club’s rise, and his distribution is integral to Fàbregas’s possession-based system. The Spaniard arrived with a pedigree that demands respect and a quality that could improve the team’s shot-stopping. Managing that tension is Fàbregas’s challenge.
The development of the academy prospects is the secondary subplot. Ginelli and Menke represent the long-term future of the position, but neither is ready for first-team football. Their progress will be monitored, but the immediate future lies with the two internationals.
The January window is unlikely to bring changes. The loan arrangement for Sánchez runs until the end of the season, and Butez’s long-term contract provides security. The priority is to maintain the current balance and ensure that the competition between the two goalkeepers remains healthy rather than destructive.
For now, Como’s goalkeepers are a unit defined by unexpected depth. Butez leads, Sánchez waits, and the supporting cast provides cover without drama. The question is whether two goalkeepers of comparable quality can share a season without one of them becoming a distraction. The early-season evidence suggests they can — as long as the results keep coming and the hierarchy remains clear.
