Como’s Champions League campaign has found an unlikely standard-bearer in Jacobo Ramón, the 20-year-old centre-back whose rise from Real Madrid Castilla has carried him from youth football to decisive moments on Europe’s biggest stage.
| Champions League match | Result | Jacobo Ramón’s contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Feyenoord vs Como | 3-2 | Long-range pass created Assane Diao’s goal |
| Como vs Manchester United | 4-1 | Scored his first Champions League goal in the 76th minute |
Ramón has played more minutes than any other Como player this season, reaching 886, and Cesc Fàbregas has made him a fixture in the side. The coach had believed in the Spaniard even when he arrived for €2.5 million in the summer of 2025 after playing in Spain’s third tier for Real Madrid Castilla. Fàbregas said Ramón suited Como’s football from the outset, although the club initially questioned how he would handle the physical duels of Italian football. “He has improved enormously and is made of different stuff,” the coach said.
A defender making his mark in Europe
Against Manchester United, Ramón attacked Kaiki’s cross from the left and headed in from close range to complete Como’s 4-1 win. It was another sign of a defender who has never hidden his appetite for goals. His role model is Sergio Ramos, and Ramón has said that he wants to become one of the best defenders while matching the former Spain captain’s scoring threat.
His European numbers underline the impact. Ramón is the Champions League’s most successful defender in completed tackles, winning all 10 of his attempts. He also ranks third among defenders for accurate passing, having completed 216 of 233 passes.
There was already evidence of that instinct at Real Madrid. Ramón scored a 95th-minute winner against Mallorca in a 2-1 victory, describing the moment as something he had dreamed of throughout his life and saying that a first goal for the club could hardly have arrived in a better fashion.
From Castilla to Como’s continental step
Ramón’s first season at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia moved quickly. He made 37 appearances and scored twice as Como finished fourth in Serie A, secured Champions League qualification and reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals. He has reflected on the speed of the journey, noting that only three seasons earlier he had been playing Youth League football alongside Nico Paz.
His domestic contribution has been equally strong, including the opening goal in Como’s 2-1 win over Parma. Among Serie A defenders, he is second for completed passes, with 453 from 492, and also second for passes completed in the final third, with 60. He is third for both overall duels won, 43 of 63, and aerial contests won, 22 of 35, while his 10 successful tackles from 17 attempts place him seventh.
The Spain Under-21 international has also been selected among FC 27’s Future Stars, an honour he called a major source of pride. Real Madrid retain a buy-back option valid until 2028, but Ramón’s longer-term ambition is an international breakthrough with Spain’s senior side. He has described it as a dream, while recognising the depth of competition in what he considers the world’s strongest national team.
