Como extend Roberta Picchi's contract after striker diagnosed with breast cancer

Como have extended the contract of striker Roberta Picchi until the end of the 2027/28 season after the 34-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer, the club announced on Monday.

The diagnosis came shortly after Picchi played a key role in Como’s promotion to the top tier of Italian women’s football for the first time — and just weeks before their opening women’s Serie A fixture against AC Milan on 26 September.

“Roberta will now begin her treatment, supported throughout by the club’s medical team, who will work closely with the specialists responsible for her care,” Como said in a statement. “Everyone at Como 1907 is alongside Roberta and will give her and her family all the support they need during the months ahead. As part of that continued commitment, the club has also renewed Roberta’s contract until the end of the 2027/28 season.”

The club also asked that Picchi’s privacy be respected as she focuses on her treatment and recovery.

Picchi responded with a statement of her own on social media. “Nothing should ever be taken for granted, and I feel fortunate,” she wrote. “It’s time to play my match, but I’ll be back even more determined.”

The news comes during a period of significant growth for the club as a whole. Como’s men’s team, managed by Cesc Fabregas, returned to Serie A for the first time in 21 years in 2024 and followed a 10th-place debut season with a fourth-place finish, securing qualification for the Champions League. The men’s side have also made a strong start to the current campaign, collecting seven points from their opening three Serie A matches.