Samuele Ricci to Como: Milan midfielder closing in on loan move with €22m option

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Como are closing in on the signing of Samuele Ricci after making significant progress in negotiations with AC Milan for the Italy midfielder.

The clubs are finalising an initial paid loan worth €1.5m, with Como receiving an option to make the transfer permanent for €22m. The agreement also contains additional bonuses linked to European qualification, with the remaining details now being completed before Ricci can join Cesc Fabregas' squad.

Como agree loan structure with Milan
The deal provides Como with a relatively low-cost route to adding an established Italy international while retaining control over whether to make the investment permanent. The initial loan will cost €1.5m and additional bonuses could become payable depending on Como's performance in European competition. The option to buy has been set at €22m.

For Milan, the agreement offers Ricci the opportunity to play more regularly after a season in which he struggled to secure a consistent place in the starting XI.The 25-year-old made 31 Serie A appearances last season but accumulated only 1,297 minutes, scoring once and providing four assists.

Ricci set to leave AC Milan after only one season
Ricci's move is notable because it comes only a year after his arrival at San Siro. Milan had invested in the former Torino midfielder as part of their attempt to add greater Italian quality and tactical intelligence in central areas, but his first campaign did not bring the continuity he had enjoyed previously. Rather than remain on the margins, Ricci is now poised to join a Como side that can offer both regular football and a place in the Champions League. That combination is particularly attractive for a player seeking to maintain his position in the Italy setup.

Fabregas continues ambitious Como rebuild
Ricci would become another important addition during an exceptionally ambitious summer for Como. Fabregas' side are building a squad capable of managing the demands of domestic and European football, and the Italian midfielder also helps with UEFA squad-registration requirements. Tactically, the move appears well suited to both parties. Ricci is comfortable receiving possession from the defence and controlling the tempo from deeper positions, qualities that fit naturally with Fabregas' preference for building attacks through midfield. Como would also have a full season to assess his impact before deciding whether to invest the €22m required for a permanent transfer.

Unless there is a late change in negotiations, Ricci is now expected to leave Milan after only one season and become the latest significant addition to Como's rapidly evolving squad.