Mattia Liberali recounts his arrival in Como, from the simplicity of everyday life to training alongside Fàbregas and dreaming of the future.
Beyond the goal he scored on his debut in a friendly at the Sinigaglia Stadium and the thrill of playing in the Champions League, what strikes you about Mattia is his maturity. Aged nineteen, he arrived in Como with the composure of someone who knows that development comes through daily hard work.
At the same time, he maintains the normality of a young man who has not yet turned twenty and is simply following his passion.
Off the pitch, his daily life is almost surprising in its simplicity.
"My daily routine at the moment is very straightforward. There's nothing particularly out of the ordinary about it: I go to the training ground, I train, and when I get home, I try to relax as much as possible. I think it’s very important to recharge properly."
To find his balance, he just needs the usual things: friends, ice cream and music — "it depends a lot on who's in the car with me" — as well as his quiet passion for drawing, which he inherited from his mum.
"Last year, I used to draw a lot. It relaxed me and helped me switch off. Off the pitch, I’m a quiet guy who likes spending time with friends and focusing on himself. In football, you have to give 100 per cent every day, but you can’t devote 24 hours a day to it."
It is perhaps precisely this need for normality that shows his maturity. For Mattia, football has always been, first and foremost, a source of enjoyment.
"I’ve never thought, ‘Now I’ve become a footballer’. I’ve always played because I enjoy it. My goal has never been to sign a contract, but to experience the joy of playing football. It was perhaps my Serie A debut that made me think, 'Maybe I’m really becoming a man who lives off his passion.'"
In Como, he has found an environment in which to grow, and people from whom to learn.
Starting with Cesc Fàbregas.
Looking back at footage of Fàbregas playing, Mattia recognises something he still sees in his manager today.
"You can sense the hunger and desire he had as a player from the way he celebrates. These are qualities that also characterise him as a manager. He really tries to convey all his ideas, emotions and feelings to us."
The dressing room took to him straight away, too. Even before he arrived, the first message came from captain Lucas Da Cunha:
"He told me I could ask him anything and that he’d be there to help me."
Then there are the teammates with whom he shares the pitch every day. When it comes to Nico Paz, he notes his attitude before his playing ability: 'His humility is key. He works hard day in, day out, and he’s hungry even when he’s defending. He’s a role model."
The comparison with Martin Baturina comes almost naturally: "We talk often because we have similar qualities. He helps me a lot in training. He has an ability to almost always make the right choice, which is something I aspire to."
His journey of growth has also been enriched by his first call-up to the Under-21 national team. This was an important milestone, but also the natural continuation of his story with the Azzurri, which began when he was just fourteen.
However, Mattia prefers not to dwell on the future too much.
"So many things have happened all at once, and it's brilliant. But I don’t dwell on it too much. I know I have to prove myself day in, day out, and I don’t have time to stop and think."
He came to Como to build a career as part of a squad that he describes with a single sentence: "We’re a really good bunch of lads who get on well together."
At the end of the interview, a blank sheet of paper appears in front of him. He is asked to draw his biggest dream for this season without using words. The paper will not be opened again until May.
Mattia smiles. He picks up the marker pen and, almost without thinking, sketches a few lines. Then he folds the paper and puts it away safely without revealing anything.
After all, for someone who has always used drawing to organise his thoughts, this may be the best way to depict the future.
The dream remains safely tucked away inside. Mattia, on the other hand, is already drawing the present every day.
