Jacobo Ramón: From Real Madrid Castilla to starring for Como in Serie A and the Champions League

Jacobo Ramón has gone from being a risky bet by Como to establishing himself as one of the standout defenders in Italian football. The Madrid-born centre-back, a product of Real Madrid's academy, joined the Lombardy club last summer for 2.5 million euros and has earned an undisputed starting role within months. His performances in Serie A and the Champions League now place him among the most reliable centre-backs in Europe.

• Jacobo Ramón left Real Madrid Castilla in 2025 to sign for Como for 2.5 million euros.
• He has played 37 matches and scored twice, proving decisive in Como's Champions League qualification.
• He netted his first goal in Europe's top competition in the 4-1 win over Manchester United.
• In the Champions League he has won all 10 tackles attempted and ranks third among defenders for completed passes.
• Head coach Cesc Fàbregas praises his adaptation to the physical demands of Serie A, calling him "a special player".

From a last-gasp Real Madrid goal to his breakthrough at Como

Despite playing as a centre-back, Jacobo Ramón has always shown a sharp instinct for popping up in the opposition box. He proved it in a Real Madrid shirt when he scored the winner against Mallorca (2-1) in the 95th minute. That goal, his first for the senior side, felt like a dream come true: "This is inexplicable, I have dreamed about this my whole life. This shirt is forever and there is no better way to score my first goal than like this," he said at the time.

That same summer he headed to Como, a move that raised questions among those who only knew him from Real Madrid's reserve team. "I came from the Spanish third division, from Real Madrid Castilla, but Cesc had a lot of faith and ambition in me. Thanks to him I am the player I am today," the Spain under-21 international admitted in an interview with Cronache di spogliatoio.

How Jacobo Ramón fits into Cesc Fàbregas' system at Como

The Madrid native has become the Como player with the most minutes so far this season, having logged 886. His ability to build play from the back fits perfectly with the style implemented by Cesc Fàbregas, who makes no secret of his admiration for the defender's output.

"Jacobo Ramón's numbers do not surprise me; he was perfect for our style of play. The only doubt we had was about his ability to compete in Italian football, which is full of duels, and how he would adapt to such a physical game. He has improved enormously, he is a special player."

That trust has translated into consistent starts and a growing influence both in possession and in defensive duties. His development mirrors that of other Spanish centre-backs who have found Serie A to be the ideal setting for maturing.

His first Champions League goal against Manchester United

The recent European fixture produced one of Como's most celebrated images of the season. Jacobo Ramón opened his Champions League scoring account by heading in from point-blank range after a Kaiki cross from the left in the 76th minute, rounding off a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United.

It was not his only notable contribution in Europe: in the 3-2 defeat to Feyenoord he had already assisted Assane Diao with a long ball that highlighted his precision from the back. That dual role, defensive and constructive, marks him out as a modern centre-back capable of deciding games from deep.

The numbers that rank Jacobo Ramón among Europe's best defenders

The impact of the Madrid-born defender is clearly reflected in this season's Champions League statistics. He is the defender with the most successful tackles in the competition, with a perfect record of 10 out of 10, and ranks third for pass completion with 216 of 233 attempts. Those figures put him on a par with the most reliable centre-backs in the tournament.

Aerial dominance, duels and ball progression in Serie A

In the Italian league his superiority is even more evident. Jacobo Ramón is the second defender with the most completed passes (453 of 492) and also second in the final third, with 60 successful deliveries. Off the ball, he ranks third for duels won, both overall (43 of 63) and in the air (22 of 35). He also sits seventh in successful tackles with 10 of 17.

Those numbers explain why Como, fourth in the table, are fighting to stay in European positions and have reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals, confirming the growth of the Lombardy project.

A possible Real Madrid return and the dream of Spain's senior team

Real Madrid retained a buy-back option valid until 2028, so the door to the Santiago Bernabéu remains open. Jacobo Ramón, however, prefers to focus on the present: his main goal is to make his debut for Spain's senior national team.

"It would be a dream. I work every day to achieve it, but we are talking about the strongest national team in the world, and the competition is enormous," the centre-back admitted. His role model is Sergio Ramos, whom he admires for his ability to score goals and compete on the biggest stages. "I want to become one of the best. Sergio Ramos is my role model," he confessed.

At 20 years old, his rise mirrors that of other academy graduates who needed to move away to explode. From the Youth League alongside Nico Paz to competing against the continent's best, Jacobo Ramón has completed a leap that very few anticipated when Como bet on him.

Frequently asked questions about Jacobo Ramón and his season at Como