When Cesc Fàbregas first called Jacobo Ramón, the young defender was speaking to someone he had grown up watching win the World Cup for Spain. "When someone like Fàbregas spoke to me, as a Spaniard who had watched him win the World Cup, it was something special. He told me about the project he had in mind for this club. Nobody thought the growth would be so fast. I was coming from Spain's third division, but he had so much ambition and so much confidence in us. Thanks to him, we are the team we are today, and we want to become even stronger."
At 21, Ramón is playing in Serie A and the Champions League with Como. Before that call, much of his footballing life had been spent at one club.
Born in Madrid in 2005, he joined Real Madrid’s academy in 2013, aged eight. He worked his way through the age groups, becoming part of the Under-19 squad that won the league, cup and Champions Cup in 2022/23 before progressing to Castilla.
International football brought another step. In 2024, he was part of the Spain squad that won the European Under-19 Championship.
His senior debut for Real Madrid followed in January 2025, in a Champions League win over Salzburg at the Santiago Bernabéu. He came on for Antonio Rüdiger in the 77th minute. After years in the academy, he was on the pitch with the first team.
Como offered the opportunity to build on that experience in a different league. Fàbregas knew the player he wanted and how he could fit into the team. "Jacobo was perfect for our style of play. He's 21, but his mentality and the way he trains are different. There are players you can just tell are made of different stuff," Fàbregas explained.
The club’s announcement of his arrival highlighted his technique and aerial ability. Those qualities give him a base to work from in a team that asks its defenders to contribute with the ball as well as without it.
Against Roma at the Sinigaglia this season, he showed a willingness to carry the ball forward and take part in the build-up, alongside his defensive work. He earned the Lega Serie A Panini Player of the Match award.
For a centre-back, stepping forward with possession means making a decision: when to advance, when to pass and how to help the team move up the pitch. It is part of the responsibility that comes with playing in Cesc’s side.
In the first six league rounds of 2026/27, Ramón made six appearances. He also scored against Parma, finishing from a Nico Paz assist, and added an appearance in the Champions League.
His selection among the Future Stars of EA SPORTS FC 27 follows Nico’s recognition a year earlier. For Jacobo, the connection is personal. "I grew up idolising Sergio Ramos. Three seasons ago, I was playing in the Youth League with Nico Paz. Today, we're competing at the highest level in Europe. Being selected as a Future Star is an enormous honour. Last year it was Nico, and this year it's my turn."
The two have known each other since their time in Real Madrid’s academy. Their friendship has continued beyond training and matches. "Nico is one of my best friends at Como. We've spent a few summers on holiday together."
When Ramón joined Como, he already knew Nico, Assane Diao and Jesús Rodríguez. In his first comments as a Como player, he spoke about the good things they had told him about the group.
Now he is part of it. Days off can mean time by the lake or trips together, with Diao often behind the practical jokes. Those friendships have carried on through the move from Spain to Italy, with time together away from football as well as at the training ground.
On the pitch, he has also valued the knowledge of more experienced players. Álvaro Morata’s advice before matches is one example. "For us, Álvaro was a leader. For everyone. He was always the first to help. Before matches, he would come over to me and say, ‘I know this striker. He moves like this. Watch out for this or that.’"
Sergio Ramos remains his footballing reference, particularly for the personality and goals he brought to the position. Ramón wants to contribute at the other end of the pitch too. Alongside his goal against Parma, he scored against Finland and San Marino for Spain’s Under-21s in European qualifying.
Away from football, he follows tennis and admires Jannik Sinner’s mentality.
There is ambition in the way he talks, but he is also clear about the parts of his game that need attention. "There are still many things I need to improve, different aspects of my game, both on and off the ball, as well as physically."
Moise Kean has noticed how he handles the demands around him. "He's a great guy. I know he'll be able to handle all of this and that he'll do well. I haven't known him for very long, but he already seems quite mature, and I'm happy for him."
Asked about Cesc’s description of him as being made of different stuff, Jacobo is less sure. "I don't know if I'm made of different stuff. I don't think so. I always try to work hard and improve because there are so many aspects of my game I need to develop. I want to be the best, and to achieve that I need to keep improving and working hard, just as I have done since I arrived here."
Future Star is a welcome recognition. His own answer brings the conversation back to what he can do next: keep working, keep learning and become a better defender.