Como are ‘deeply saddened’ by the death of one of their owners, Michael Bambang Hartono: ‘Under the family’s leadership, the Club have entered a new chapter in their history.’

Michael Bambang Hartono, one of the owners of Serie A side Como, died on Thursday, the club announced in a statement.

“Como 1907 is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Bambang Hartono,” the Azzurri said.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the Hartono family and to all at the Djarum Group.

“Under the family’s leadership, the Club has entered a new chapter in its history, and we remember him with gratitude and respect.”

Como 1907 is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Bambang Hartono.

We extend our sincere condolences to the Hartono family and to all at the Djarum Group.

Under the family’s leadership, the Club has entered a new chapter in its history, and we remember him with gratitude… pic.twitter.com/o9YGHm7qiu

— Como1907 (@Como_1907) March 19, 2026

Michael and his brother Robert acquired the club in 2019, when the team was playing in Italy’s third division, Serie C.

They returned to Serie A in 2024 after 21 years and are now fighting for Champions League qualification, sitting fourth in the league table.

As reported by Gazzetta, the Hartono brothers have a combined net worth of $43.8 billion, making them the richest in Indonesia.

Argentina have called up Como pair Nico Paz and Maxi Perrone for their upcoming friendly games, but left Inter’s Lautaro Martinez at home.

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The Seleccion is warming up for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and was meant to be facing Spain in La Finalissima between the winners of the European Championship and Copa America.

However, it was scrapped after they failed to agree on the date or venue, so instead Argentina are going to play Guatemala on March 31.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has seen the good performances of Como in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, rewarding Nico Paz and creative midfielder Perrone with a call-up.

Inter had feared Lautaro Martinez would travel across the globe even though he is recovering from a month out injured, but they have decided to spare him this strain.

Roma forward Paulo Dybala is also unavailable due to injury, so the only two Serie A representatives in the Argentina squad hail from Como.

Argentina squad

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Leonardo Baleri (Marseille), Marco Senesi (Bournemouth), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Tomas Palacios (Estudiantes), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gabriel Rojas (Racing), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Maximo Perrone (Como), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Valentin Barco (Racing Strasbourg), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Jose Lopez (Palmeiras), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)

Roma wing-back Wesley Franca insists that the incident that led to his sending off during Saturday’s Serie A defeat against Como ‘wasn’t a foul’, and says that the Giallorossi need ‘100% concentration’ if they are to overcome Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday night. 

Wesley reacts to Como red and previews Bologna second leg

The Brazilian wideman joined head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for Wednesday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie between Roma and Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night. The tie is currently level after a 1-1 draw at the Dall’Ara last week. 

For Wesley, this was also an opportunity to review his most recent Serie A match. Roma were beaten 2-1 away against Como in a massive game in the race for the Champions League positions, and the Brazilian was controversially sent off just over an hour in with the scores still level at 1-1. 

Wesley was sent off for a second bookable offence, but he insists that there was no foul in his clash with Como’s Assane Diao. 

Like the incident that led to Pierre Kalulu’s wrongful sending off in the Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter in February, the incident could not be referred to VAR for review as it was a second yellow card offence and not a straight red. For the same reason, neither Kalulu nor Wesley’s suspensions were overturned either. 

“It wasn’t a foul. I was aware I was on a booking and didn’t want a red,” Wesley protested (via TMW). 

“I was on his side, leaning on him because he was falling on top of me. I was convinced afterwards that I hadn’t committed a foul, but for others, I did. It was a decisive incident which changed the game.” 

Moving on from the Como incident, Wesley went on to explain why he has been able to hit the ground running so comfortably in Italy after joining Roma from Flamengo over the summer. 

“Italian football is different to Brazilian football, but with a lot of concentration, it’s difficult for others to get past me, just as it’s easier for me to dribble against them,” he explained. 

“The coach asks me to attack, to not make mistakes and to make the right decisions. I’m improving and playing helps that.” 

And looking ahead to Thursday’s clash against Bologna, he added: “For me, it’s a dream to play in Europe. We care a lot. Careers are built in these tournaments, it requires 100% concentration. We have to be ready tomorrow.” 

And on his individual battle with Federico Bernardeschi during the first leg, Wesley said: “He’s very strong with some great characteristics. The duel was great. We’ve played against a lot of strong players, but he’s very good.” 

Inter Milan and AC Milan sit jointly at the top of Serie A’s shirt sponsorship earnings table, but the gap between the division’s biggest clubs and the rest remains stark, and for one club, the commercial silence is deafening.

Both Milan clubs currently earn €30 million per season from their respective shirt partners, according to reports gathered by CalcioMercato.

Inter receive their fee from Bettson, whose logo appears as Bettson.sport on the jersey, a workaround required under Italian laws prohibiting direct betting sponsorship.

Milan’s deal with Emirates is worth the same figure this season, though a recently signed renewal will see that rise to €35 million from 2026/27 onwards.

Serie A shirt sponsors: Juventus, Napoli & Roma rise as Lazio go sponsorless

Juventus, meanwhile, have seen a dramatic fall in commercial income in this area.

Having gone a full season without a shirt sponsor, Save the Children carried no financial value, the club have returned Jeep to their jersey, but through an internal Exor arrangement worth just €19 million this season, rising to €23 million next year.

It is a far cry from the €45 million the previous Jeep deal delivered at its peak. Napoli’s MSC Crociere deal is worth €9 million this season and is also set to increase in the coming campaign.

Roma have just unveiled a new shirt partner of their own, Eurobet.live, another betting-adjacent workaround, worth €8 million this season and €13 million from next.

Across the city, however, Lazio remain the only club in Serie A without a shirt sponsor, with Claudio Lotito yet to secure any commercial partnership for the jersey.

Some of the most eye-catching figures come from family-owned clubs with internal sponsorship arrangements. Fiorentina receive €25 million from Mediacom, a company connected to the late Rocco Commisso’s family, while Sassuolo’s Mapei deal is worth €18 million.

At the other end of the scale, the numbers are considerably more modest. Bologna receive €3 million from owner Joey Saputo’s business, Atalanta earn €5 million from Lete, and Cagliari pick up €3.6 million from the Sardinian regional government.

Torino (Suzuki, €2.35m), Parma (Prometeon, €1.5m), Udinese (Friuli Venezia Giulia region, €1.5m) and Genoa (Pulsee, €1.2m) follow, with Verona, Lecce and Como all on €1 million.

Pisa bring up the rear with €700,000 from Cetilar, who also sponsor the stadium.