Ivan Smolcic

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

At Como 1907, currently occupying a solid 6th-place position and boasting a midfield engine room featuring the likes of Maxence Caqueret and Lucas Da Cunha, Croatian right-back Ivan Smolcic is quietly carving out his place in Fabregas's system. The 25-year-old defender, valued at €2.5 million, has made four appearances totaling 270 minutes this season - a gradual integration suggesting the coaching staff are carefully managing his adaptation to Serie A. Operating as an overlapping full-back, Smolcic brings pace and recovery ability to complement Como's possession-heavy approach, though his output box remains blank with zero goals or assists to date. With yellow card discipline already tested, Smolcic represents a developmental project: a young Croatian with the physical attributes (55 defending, 55 physical) to grow into a reliable outlet on the right flank. As Como push for European contention, his minutes will likely increase - the question is whether he can translate his athleticism into the attacking contributions modern full-backs demand.