Italian Serie B side Como's ambitious January transfer plans have been revealed, with club president Mirwan Suwarso confirming they attempted to sign Manchester United's Marcus Rashford before his eventual loan move to Aston Villa.
Suwarso disclosed to Sky Italia that the club had pursued several high-profile players during the January transfer window, including both Rashford and AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez. While these ambitious moves didn't materialize, Como did succeed in securing former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli on a free transfer following his departure from Everton.
"We tried to do our best to give our coach the players he needed for his style of football," Suwarso explained to Sky Italia. "We analysed our needs and, when possible, we tried to resolve them. You have read about many names. Well, not all of them, but many were true. We were close to many players, some of whom did not leave."
The Como president acknowledged the challenges faced by smaller clubs in attracting top talent, stating, "Yes, we tried, but we are also aware that we are a small club, so there are people who still do not take us seriously. When these big names hear about Como, they say 'no, I want to play in the Champions League'."
Rashford, who had been linked with various European clubs throughout January after being sidelined from the United first team by Ruben Amorim, ultimately completed a loan move to Aston Villa. The deal includes an option for Villa to make the transfer permanent for £40 million ($49m) in the summer.
The 27-year-old forward has already made his mark at Villa, featuring in their FA Cup victory over Tottenham last weekend. He is set to continue his Premier League campaign with Unai Emery's side this Saturday against Ipswich Town.
Despite their unsuccessful pursuit of Rashford, Suwarso maintains an optimistic outlook for Como's future. "We dream. As human beings, this is what always makes us move forward," he said. "Every day we look forward to something bigger, every day we try to do something better than the day before."
