Kaiki Bruno da Silva surprised everyone in Como's win over Parma, but not Fabregas, who even made a biting joke about the defender on television. "You don't know him, but I do... because I follow Brazilian football", against the backdrop of the success that returned the Lario team to second place in Serie A, there is also this lesson: after buying a player there are not only economic reflections, but above all detailed analysis and study to understand how perfectly he really fits the tactical needs of the team. The Spanish coach wanted to emphasize this not with polemic intent, but by underlining what is the value of the work done in collaboration with the staff that the club has made available to him. It is his clear idea of football and the transfer market built by Como in accordance with it, investing the right resources.
Fabregas knew everything about Kaiki: "It didn't surprise me"
Fabregas had already established a clear belief in the 23-year-old defender who came from Cruzeiro and is part of the first national team. The match against Parma represented an important showcase for Kaikin, who even managed to score at the end, taking advantage of a favorable deflection after a double save by goalkeeper Corvi. Thus he legitimized what was his debut with his first goal in the Italian championship. And if for many the debut of the former Cruzeiro player was a revelation, the Como coach rejects this reading of surprise. For him it is only confirmation of what he already knew and had learned.
"It surprised you because you don't follow Brazilian football, I do," says Fabregas, who smiles slyly at the journalist. "Sanchez is easier to get to know, you know Kean well, but Kaiki will help us a lot because he is a defensive player who is very fast. He is very serious, he trains very well, he has dribbling and running and little by little he will adapt well."
His performance is the answer the coach was expecting after a brilliant debut in the Champions League (4-1 against Leipzig) and a very good start in Serie A. Everyone who has come off the bench has lived up to expectations. "This is important for me too, because I know I can count on everyone."
Who is Kaiki, the defender acquired from Cruzeiro?
Kaiki is a Brazilian left-back born in 2003, acquired from Cruzeiro last summer on a loan deal with an obligation to buy fixed at 14 million euros if certain conditions are met. He made his first start against Parma, having previously come on for 9 minutes for Maradona in the win against Napoli.
The left-footed defender, 172 cm tall, grew up at the Belo Horizonte club. He has characteristics that perfectly match what Fabregas is looking for: he is quick and prone to accompanying the action, attacks the wing, creates numerical superiority and looks for crosses. With the Selecao, Kaiki recorded his first appearance in the match played against Croatia and ended 3-1.
