Adapting to Italy’s Football Culture

Ignace opens the interview, asking Marc about his transition from the Bundesliga to Serie A. “What’s the biggest difference?” Marc muses, “Serie A is more technical. In Germany, there’s a big emphasis on fitness and constant transitions. Here, the game has a more refined, tactical approach.” Marc admits he enjoys the new challenge, while Ignace shares his own journey. “Moving from Belgium to Italy was a dream. The culture, the weather—it’s fantastic. On the pitch, the toughest part was learning everyone’s names!” he jokes.

Life by the Lake

When the conversation turns to life in Como, Marc lights up. “The city itself is smaller than Berlin, but it’s beautiful. For me, it’s about being close to nature, having a good environment for my kids—and my new dog!” Ignace, who spends most of his time in Milan, recalls a magical day on Lake Como. “I rented a boat with my girlfriend. The weather was perfect, and the views were breathtaking. Marc, you have to try it soon,” he insists.

Leadership and Language

The two defenders also discuss adapting to the Italian language. “Italian is tough,” Marc admits, “but I’m starting to pick up words. Once my family gets here, I’ll get serious about lessons.” Ignace has a head start with a few key phrases like “Tutto bene” and “gioca, gioca.” Both agree that in a year’s time, they should be able to do this interview in Italian.

Marc shares his thoughts on leadership. “For defenders, communication is crucial. Talking, helping, and understanding each other on and off the pitch—that’s how we perform better as a team.” Ignace nods, recognizing Marc’s experience and influence. They also reflect on Como’s young talent, with Marc praising the squad’s quality.

The Fàbregas Factor

Their admiration for head coach Cesc Fàbregas is evident. “It’s a privilege to work with him,” Ignace says. “He demands a lot but is also very humble. His way of communicating motivates us.” Marc agrees, noting how Cesc’s experience brings a unique energy to the team.

Friendship and Banter

The bond between Marc and Ignace is unmistakable, punctuated with playful jabs. Marc recalls their first meeting. “We had some trash talk on the pitch when we played against each other. But now, Ignace is one of my closest friends.” Ignace laughs, admitting, “I thought Marc was crazy at first. Turns out I was right! But we’ve spent so much time together, and now we get to share clean sheets in Serie A.”

They debate who’s faster, with Marc confidently claiming he’d win a race. Ignace challenges him, “We’ll have to test that.” Their friendly rivalry is just one part of a deeper camaraderie, one that extends beyond football and into a shared adventure on the shores of Lake Como.

Watch the players interview each other in full on Como TV.

Twenty-four years on from his Barcelona debut and after stops in cities such as Liverpool, Naples, Munich and Milan (among others), the veteran Spanish goalkeeper treated his new team-mates at the Sinigaglia to a rousing rendition of La Bamba.

Like all good initiation songs, it went viral, but more importantly it signalled the start of the latest chapter in the Reina story.

Como is his ninth club. He is a former international team-mate of manager Cesc Fabregas, who said at the time of his signing earlier in the summer: “We are thrilled to welcome Pepe to the club. He is a goalkeeper with great international experience and a very competitive mentality. For these reasons, I am sure that his contribution will help the team to grow and improve.”

That competitive mentality was first on show at the famous Barca academy. He joined La Masia in 1995 – four years before winning the European U17 Championship with Spain. On his full Barcelona debut in 2000, he lined up with the likes of Brazil superstar Rivaldo, Spain’s serial winner Xavi and Dutch legend Frank de Boer.

From the Nou Camp he moved to Villarreal and made more than 100 appearances before the eight-year spell at Liverpool he is most remembered for. 

It was during his time on Merseyside that he added an FA Cup winner’s medal to his collection after saving three spot-kicks when the 2006 final against West Ham went to penalties. 

He lifted the League Cup and UEFA Super Cup as a Red and lost to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final in Athens. He also claimed the Golden Glove – awarded to the keeper with the most Premier League clean sheets – three seasons in a row.

Reina made 36 appearances for his country and was part of the victorious squads at the 2010 World Cup and European Championships in 2008 and 2012, as understudy to Iker Casillas – a man he rates as one of the two all-time greatest in his position. “Him and Gianluigi Buffon have been an inspiration to many of us. I would say they are the best.”

On that remarkable run with his country he said: “The national team was something extraordinary. We won two European Championships and a World Cup consecutively, which might never happen again.”

Club success continued at Napoli with the 2014 Coppa Italia. He was a Bayern Munich player when they won the Bundesliga in 2015, before he turned out for Milan, Aston Villa and Lazio and had a second stint at Villarreal.

It was back in eastern Spain that Reina, who turned 42 at the end of August, started to wonder if it was time to hang up the gloves.

But this is a player who has been praised for his longevity. He passed the 1000-game barrier last year and, at the time of writing, had played in Como’s first four matches of the season.

After putting pen to paper on a one-year deal in July, he said: “I arrive in a beautiful project, a family that continues to grow and tries to raise the bar every year. I return to a league that I know well and that I know is very competitive, for my part I want to give my contribution to the development of this club.”

Family is important. He is married to Yolanda, has five children and describes himself as “definitely a present dad who loves his children and tries to raise them to be good people.”

Some hope to follow in his footsteps. “The two boys, one is a goalkeeper, the other a defender,” Reina said. “But it’s not important to me that they become footballers, but rather that they are good people.”

And the reason he wears No.25? “They gave it to me when I arrived at Villarreal, then my first daughter was born on the 25th, so I’ve always kept that number.”

His daily routine is simple. “I wake up, take the kids to school, arrive at training, have breakfast, session with the physios, gym, training, lunch, then pick up the kids from school and dedicate the rest of the day to the family.”

He cites his father – Miguel, a goalkeeper who represented Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – as his biggest inspiration, on and off the pitch, while he also gives special mention to some big-name bosses he has worked with.

Longer term, following Fabregas on the path to management holds some appeal for Reina, and in an interview with The Athletic last year he said: “I’ve been lucky with (Rafa) Benitez, (Maurizio) Sarri, (Pep) Guardiola and (Gennaro) Gattuso, lots of big names. You try to combine the best bits of all of them and try to avoid the worst bits.

“Even when I played with (Manchester City manager) Pep at Barcelona many years ago, you could see it would be natural for him. He was the manager on the field. Now he’s one of the best managers ever.”

Reina may be in the twilight of his playing career but he brings a wealth of experience and also bundles of character to Como. 

He once signed a fan’s skin so they could get it tattooed, would love to spend a day with golfer Tiger Woods, while his chosen super power would be the ability to heal people.

In 2021, three years before that team-bonding rendition of La Bamba, he appeared on the Spanish version of the musical reality show The Masked Singer – dressed as a giant penguin and belting out Hola Mi Amor, a traditional number from his homeland.

So, if this is his swansong, expect to hear it loud and proud.

Get to know Pepe: Quick Fire Questions

Team supported as a child: Barcelona.

Most memorable game: The Champions League final against AC Milan in 2007 although it is a big regret we did not win. But the semi-final against Chelsea was extraordinary (Liverpool won on penalties). The atmosphere at Anfield was something incredible.

Favourite players: Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres – fantastic.

Best player of all time: Lionel Messi.

Diego Maradona or Pelé? Maradona.

Favourite movie: The Green Mile.

Favourite song: Hablo Contigo by Nina Pastori.

Favourite book: Operacion Lobo. It fascinated me.

Craziest experience in football: Celebrating the World Cup win in Madrid after returning from South Africa. There were more than a million people. Seeing the whole country united was incredible.

Describe yourself in three words: Stubborn, normal, family-oriented.

Craziest footballer you know: Joan Capdevila (former Spain defender).

Next global star: I hope it will be Nico Paz (young Como midfielder). He’s really strong.

Nickname: Baldy.

Favourite cities: Madrid, Cordoba, Naples.

Superstitions/rituals before a match: I have many, countless… but I can’t tell you about them.

Favourite hobby: Playing golf.

Any phobias: Bees.

Advice to any aspiring footballer: Be humble and start from scratch every day.

Chioggia and his brother

“My father Bruno and my grandfather Stellio have always followed football – says Alessandro – and my older brother, Stefano, started playing in the team of my city, Chioggia. As a younger brother, I wanted to become like him. We started playing in the streets, in the small fields. My brother was the one who most influenced me at the beginning. He then pushed me to keep going when I moved from my city’s team to play in Padua.”

From books to documentaries

Alessandro says one of his favourite players as a child was Kakà. Now, he prefers watching other sports than football, apart from Serie B games: “In my spare time, I try to do other things and watch other sports.” His hobbies include crosswords, books, and documentaries: “I have often thought about enrolling in University, Sport Science, but every time I seemed convinced, I eventually backed out. I am sorry, but I think that having reached this level as a professional footballer, I need to concentrate fully on work. I always try to inform myself, watch documentaries, and follow travel bloggers in my spare time. And I enjoy reading different books, depending on the moment. Like Liliana Segre’s book, which I read after we had the pleasure to meet her at the pre-season retreat in Bormio, or some books I read to improve my English.”

A group of friends

Alessandro says that his experience in Como has been fantastic. Como Magazine asked him if, five years ago, he could have ever imagined that it would have been that exciting: “The ambition has always been there, and we have always felt it. But saying and doing are two things. We did well, and the Club did well to provide us with everything we needed.” Among his favourite moments of his years in Como: “I carry two wins in my heart: the one against Livorno, which came after a defeat, and the one against Alessandria, which meant promotion to Serie B in 2021.” Part of Alessandro’s heart is now in Como together with his friends: “The teammates I met when I arrived became my friends.” Among them, Matteo Solini, Alessandro’s neighbour: “I share so much with Matteo. We live in the same block of flats and always go to training together.”

Spaghetti with clams

The lakefront in Como is a special place for Alessandro. He enjoys strolling and relaxing there. Even after five years of living in the city, he rediscovers the beauty of the place every time he sees it. As a true ‘chioggotto’ (a person from Chioggia), his favourite dish is spaghetti with clams, which he loves to eat at the Delfino Blu restaurant in Lipomo. Of Delfino Blu, he says: “It is not just a restaurant, it is a family. And the place where we celebrate our wins.”

Grandpa’s bracelet

Alessandro tells us about his pre-game routine: “If I am home, I need my girlfriend to wish me luck. If I am away, I need her to text me. And then I always carry one of my grandfather’s bracelets.”

Training

Alessandro says he is the first to arrive at training and the last to leave: “The first thing I told my girlfriend when she decided to move here was: I am always at training” (laughs). In his life as a professional, he says: “I dedicate a lot to rest, to the gym, to eating healthy. Sometimes, I am less strict when we win.” His typical day starts with training until he returns home in the afternoon, rests, goes shopping, has dinner, and rests again: “If I have a day and a half or two days off, I always go to Chioggia. Otherwise, I go to the lake or Brunate.”

Values and a lot of work

Looking back, Alessandro says: “I would do everything I did. I was lucky enough to have a family that educated me well and taught me the values of life.” To a young man who would like to follow in his footsteps, he says: “Nothing is impossible. Stick to values, be willing to make sacrifices.”

An incredible season as captain

Alessandro says that being Como 1907’s captain is an honour for him: “I earned the captain’s armband, but in the squad, there are several captains who are the pillars of this team.” About the fans, Alessandro says: “I feel their affection, which is mutual. I think the fans appreciate that I’ve always done my best, that I’ve never been out of place as captain, that I try – even if perhaps I don’t always succeed – to do things well.”

Born in Kansas City, Niko moved to Parma, Italy, as a child with his family. Niko’s ascent in European football saw him amass 88 appearances, 12 goals, and four assists during his time with French club SM Caen (Ligue 2).

Niko also played for Montpellier HSC (Ligue 1) before moving to the USA with MLS teams Orlando City and then St. Louis City.

Niko has appeared on the international stage for the U.S. Men’s National Team, making his senior debut against Wales, and has since registered eight caps, scoring three goals and providing two assists for the U.S., including five appearances, one goal and an assist in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2021 Gold Cup championship win.

Where it all begins

Nicholas says that when he first saw a ball, “instead of catching it with my hands, I kicked it.” His first experience with a football team began in 2006: “I started playing with a local team in Overland Park, Kansas, where I played for two years before moving with my family to Parma, Italy.”

American soccer

After memorable football experiences in Europe, Niko returned to the USA where, in the meantime, football has grown: “I have seen an incredible evolution. Compared to when I was a kid, many people now go to the States from other countries to play and coach. Soccer in the United States is not just American. It has become international. And I see a growing passion among those who follow it.” Nicholas has also played for the U.S. national team: “I am proud of it,” he says. Given the 2026 World Cup, he says: “If the coach wants to call me, I am ready.”

His cousin as a coach

Despite having an Italian father, no one pushed Nicholas to play football. It was something that happened naturally. His cousin Warren played an important role: “I was still a kid. He realised I liked football and coached me a bit in kicking goals.” His football idols include Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The Italian grit

To Nicholas, a distinctive peculiarity of Italy is grit: “I learned this word as a child when I was in Italy. Compared to the United States, I immediately noticed a big difference. In Italy, I saw a desire to win, to fight a lot, and to do anything to score. It was grit or ‘grinta’ that, at the time, I understood, more than any other characteristics, about Italian football.”

Teammates and the new city

To Niko, Como means a new start in Italy: “Some people were close to me during these months and helped me to settle in. The city is beautiful, and the people are very kind.” Nicholas says he bonded a lot with his English-speaking and French-speaking teammates: “We have many groups within the team, but everyone feels at home. It is family.”

The “risotto with ossobuco”

Brunate is among his favourite places around Como: “I have been there twice, once with my family and once alone. Of Como, I like the view of the lake, especially at sunset.” To the question about his preferred dish – to enjoy at Terzo Crotto restaurant in Cernobbio, his favourite one – Niko replies as a true local: “Milanese risotto with ossobuco.” Not pizza or pasta, then, but a traditional dish: “It is good to taste traditional dishes. Every tourist should try them.”

Cars and rap

Outside of football, Nicholas likes cars, especially Gran Turismo, which he watches many videos of and sometimes plays with on the Playstation: “It is a dangerous passion because cars are expensive” (laughs). Before matches, he always listens to music: “It puts me in the right mood. I listen to American and French rap, like Travis Scott and Meek Mill. It is a beat that gives me energy.”

Do everything to fulfil your dreams

Nicholas’ advice to young people who want to follow in his footsteps: “Do everything to achieve your dreams,” as young Niko did, following his passion for football. Looking back, he would say to a younger Nicholas: “Have more fun.” Fun “is not going to the disco. It is having fun in what you do. In five, 10, 20 years or more from now, I will look back at what I did. I will not be able to change the past. Therefore, I think it is fundamental to live in the present while having fun in what you do.”

Mum Joan

His mum, Joan, plays a crucial role in his life: “My mum and I are very close. She is one of the most important people in my life, and she has done everything for me. If I am the man I have become today, I owe a lot to her. She guides me in the right direction in all aspects of life. She taught me to be a man of my word, respectful, and just. Thinking about my behaviour, I believe I follow her teachings well enough. I want to thank her for the man I am today.”

Part of Cameroon’s 2022 World Cup team, he also helped BSC Young Boys to have one of their best spells in history, winning the league five times, lifting the domestic cup three times, and competing in the Champions League since signing for the club in 2017.

Now a forward for Como 1907, having arrived during the January transfer window he talks to Como Magazine about the footballers and other sports personalities that inspire him.

2006 FIFA World Cup

Jean-Pierre has loved football, “a sport that gives joy and brings people together”, since the very beginning. He says that it was by chasing a ball that he learnt to walk. His fondness for football grew more and more until 2006 when 13-year-old Jean-Pierre watched the World Cup final on TV: “The atmosphere of that match was magical. It was then when I realised I wanted to become a professional player, to feel and experience the emotions I had felt during that World Cup.”

32 years after: Young Boys wins the league

Bern, Switzerland, 2018. Young Boys had not won the league for 32 years. Nsame comes in and scores the winning goal in the 89th minute: “One of the best moments of my career so far. The whole city was waiting for that”, he recalls. At that moment, his mind brought him back to the 2006 World Cup: “I was then the main character and grateful to live that moment. My desire to win since then started to grow even more.”

Cristiano Ronaldo

Jean-Pierre says he does not have football idols but rather has a footballer who inspired him: “Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a clear example of the fact that, without work, you cannot achieve anything. Talent is also important, but it is not enough. Without working hard, you are simply a talented player. Following Ronaldo’s career has given me the drive to improve continuously and achieve important goals.”

The Old Trafford tunnel

Jean-Pierre says that playing in the Champions League was “incredible”. That time when Young Boys played at the Old Trafford, memories of him and his brother watching Manchester United games on TV came right to his mind. “When I came out of the tunnel, I imagined my brother on the other side of the screen. I also projected myself on the other side while watching Manchester United. I had never imagined that one day I would have walked through that tunnel, which I have seen a thousand times on TV.”

A team player

Jean-Pierre feels akin to Karim Benzema: “I like his mentality on the pitch. Benzema is a complete striker who knows how to score but is also good at playing with and for his teammates.“. I consider myself a team player. I am inclined to help the squad and open up spaces. I am also happy when others open up spaces for me. And I like assisting and scoring.”

Never stop improving

Behind Jean-Pierre’s achievements is an enormous amount of work that means physical and mind preparation, nutrition, and sleep: “I have my staff, a trainer, a dietician, a mental coach. They all help me, along with my family, to maintain the level I have reached. I always try to progress, physically and tactically. As long as I stay in football, I will continue to do so. I still have this drive, this flame, as if I were 20 years old.”

Food and the team

New teammates have welcomed Jean-Pierre brilliantly. Among those with whom he bonded the most is Daniele Baselli: “The more you get to know your teammates off the pitch, the easier it is to play with them.” Nsame organised a first restaurant dinner in Como with some of his new teammates. They went to Locanda dei Giurati before going into the Serie B final rush: “I think that a dinner could unite us even more and face this important moment in the best possible way.”

Dragon Ball Z

Jean-Pierre likes cartoons: “They remind me of my childhood as I always try to stay in touch with the child in me. At home, I have a picture of me playing turned into a drawing of Dragon Ball Z, a series I adore.”

The priceless dream

Jean-Pierre not only finds inspiration in other footballers such as Ronaldo and Benzema but also in other sports personalities like Rafael Nadal, LeBron James: ” What interests me most about them is not what they have achieved, but the path they followed and the difficulties they encountered on that path. They dream big. It is as if they are reaching for the stars to reach for the sky. The dream is priceless, but there is always a huge amount of work behind it .”

A talented striker, he had already scored 12 goals in 21 games in the current season making him the top scorer in Serie C (A Group).

Since he was a child, he has known Como city well, having come to the lake regularly to visit his aunt and cousins. We catch up with him so see how he is settling in.

When football was just fun

As a result of signing with Como 1907, Tommaso has reached the highest level of his football career. Once, to him, football was just a hobby: “Until the age of 18, I played in my village in minor leagues. Back then, football was just fun. I used to work in the mornings before training in the afternoons. Then things started to turn into something different. The first change was the signing with Giana in Serie C. I realised that football could be my job. Now Como, a new league for me.”

Spending summer in Como

If Serie B is new to Tommaso, the city is not. He has known Como well since childhood: “When my aunt married, she moved here. My hometown is less than an hour’s drive away. When I was a child, I came to Como in the summer. I used to swim in the lake with my cousins and participate in some summer tournaments when I could still play in amateur football tournaments.” Among his favourite places are the Duomo, in the city centre, and the village of Cernobbio: “I like the Duomo, especially at night, and walking by the Cernobbio lake shore. I suggest going to Onda, a nice restaurant with a beautiful view.”

First time away from home

When Tommaso became a Como player, he left his home for the first time: “Among the biggest changes in my life now is to live alone. That means taking care of the house and dealing with anything that running a house means. Like cooking, for instance. Sometimes I feel lost, so I call my mum for advice.”

New teammates

When he arrived in Como, Tommaso reunited with Alessio Iovine, whom he met at Giana Erminio: “When I got here, all my new teammates welcomed me brilliantly. I met with Ale (Iovine) again. Then Alessandro Bellemo and Daniele Baselli were very nice. With Alessandro Gabrielloni, I got on immediately. We live just a few metres away. We see each other for dinner. We spend time together, even with Patrick Cutrone.”

A team of great players

To Tommaso, being a Como 1907 player also means sharing the locker room with people who have played for Serie A and other first leagues. Tommaso wishes to learn from them: “Here, I am sharing the locker room with great players. Even though I come from lower leagues, my teammates have never made me feel this difference. I want to thank them, also for the advice they give me at training.”

Milito and LeBron James

As a child, Tommaso used to go and watch his dad play five-a-side football. It was back then, he says, that he perhaps began to get passionate about football. Besides playing, he watches games on TV: Serie A, Serie B, and the Champions League. Diego Milito was among his favourite players as a child: “I always liked Milito because he was a striker. To me, he was great. I liked his grit and his ability in front of goal.” About other sports, Tommaso says: “I enjoy basketball, especially the Lakers and LeBron James. LeBron is such an example: despite his age, he is still playing at a very high level. I also like Formula 1 and MotoGP. Now, thanks to Jannik Sinner, I also follow tennis.”

The “Cinepanettone”

Tommaso enjoys the TV series Narcos, action movies, and Italian comedies, especially the genre known as “Cinepanettone”: “I enjoy Cinepanettone because it makes people laugh. Especially movies from a few years ago, like Vacanze di Natale 2000 in Cortina.”

The right attitude

Andrea Chiappella, who was Tommaso’s coach at Giana Erminio, gave him a piece of advice: “I’ve always gotten a bit too angry when I made mistakes on the pitch. The coach made me realise that this was something to improve. I became calmer, and I have to thank him for this”. Tommaso wants to advise players who might follow his path: “If you want to do something big, keep going, even when it’s arduous.”

Cresciuto nel settore giovanile dello Spezia, con i bianconeri ha debuttato in Serie B nel 2015 e in Serie A nel 2020. La scorsa stagione, in prestito al Como, ha messo a referto 32 presenze con 3 gol e 4 assist.

“Sono molto felice di potermi legare al Como per le prossime 3 stagioni – ha dichiarato Luca Vignali – nonostante sia stato a Como per una sola annata il rapporto che si è creato con questo gruppo è davvero forte e per questo ho deciso di continuare il percorso di crescita con i lariani. Sono pronto a scendere in campo e non vedo l’ora di iniziare a giocare”.