Assane Diao, Como’s new Spanish attacker, has made an immediate impact in Serie A, scoring two goals in his first 250 minutes of play and becoming the youngest player with at least two goals in the league. Arriving from Real Betis on January 7th, Diao quickly impressed manager Cesc Fabregas, who gave him his debut just three days later against Lazio, followed by a starting role and a goal against Milan four days after that. His impressive form continued with another goal and an MVP award against Udinese.
In a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Diao expressed surprise at his rapid success: “I certainly didn’t expect this. Of course, it was what I wanted, but I was also aware that Serie A is difficult and that the initial impact could have been complicated. Thanks to my teammates and the technical staff, I adapted very well right away.”
Diao revealed that a conversation with Fabregas was crucial in his decision to join Como: “I spoke with Fabregas, who explained the project, the vision, and what he had in mind for me and the team’s development. After the call, I had no more doubts.”
The young Spaniard praised Serie A’s intensity and competitiveness while expressing gratitude for the support he’s received from his new teammates and coaching staff. He also shared his excitement about living in Italy, describing Como as “a pearl loved all over the world” and Italian culture as “the maximum.”
Looking ahead to Como’s upcoming matches, including a home game against Atalanta and a challenging run of fixtures against top Serie A sides, Diao remained confident: “We think game by game. The team has shown that it can play with anyone and express beautiful football even against the big teams. As Fabregas says, we always go on the field to win.”
Diao also discussed his versatility on the pitch, stating that while he prefers playing as a winger, he’s comfortable as a striker when needed. He dismissed comparisons to Mario Balotelli, instead citing Joaquin Sanchez and Sadio Mané as his footballing idols.
Reflecting on his career highlights, Diao mentioned winning the Under-19 European Championship with Spain last July as his most significant achievement to date. He expressed hope of competing in the Under-20 World Cup this summer.
When asked about his family, Diao clarified a misconception about his father’s lottery win, explaining that while a family member did win a lottery, it was unrelated to his move to Spain.
Diao concluded the interview by mentioning his twin brother, who still plays for Real Betis, expressing hope that they might face each other on the football field in the future.
