Da Cunha recently reflected on the progression of his career and admitted that he had to overcome significant shortcomings before establishing himself at Como.
“I realised that I was not ready at all. Technically, yes, I had good ball control. I knew how to do certain things, but there was still so much to learn on the pitch.”
That realisation became an important part of his development, allowing him to change his approach and improve his game.
“I understood that and it helped me grow and develop my game as well.”
Fàbregas was particularly important in that process. The current Como head coach initially knew Da Cunha as a player before taking over the team, and eventually changed his position after deciding that he could offer something different from midfield.
“For me, Cesc Fàbregas was extremely important. When I arrived, he was a player. Then he immediately took me under his wing.”
“Later he became a coach. At one point, he needed a midfielder. He put me in that position because he felt it was right and from that moment on he spoke to me a lot and gave me so much advice. Today, if I feel so comfortable on the pitch, it is thanks to him.”
The transformation has taken Da Cunha all the way to the France national team, where he now works under Zinedine Zidane as well as continuing his relationship with Fàbregas at Como.
“Being coached by Zinedine Zidane and Cesc Fàbregas... there really is nothing better. It is exceptional. Being able to receive advice from both of them, from coaches of this calibre, is really enriching.”
Da Cunha’s rise has also attracted serious interest from elsewhere. Medhi Benatia, the former Marseille sporting director, revealed that the French club tracked the midfielder for 18 months and attempted to sign him from Como during the winter transfer window.
“At OM we followed him for a year and a half. We spoke, we tried to take him away from Como in the winter market.”
The deal ultimately failed because Marseille considered Como’s asking price too high.
“He was too expensive.”
Marseille subsequently turned their attention to Quinten Timber, but Da Cunha’s continued development has made that decision look increasingly significant.
Fàbregas himself has always viewed the midfielder’s mentality as one of his greatest strengths. The Como coach believes hunger can be more important than reputation when building a squad.
“The credit is all his. I believed in him, but his growth has been incredible because of the mentality and hunger he has.”
Fàbregas explained that this was part of the profile he wanted at Como.
“I prefer someone with less talent but an incredible hunger to make a career to someone who arrives with a great past and has already made money. That is what Como needs.”
That philosophy has helped Da Cunha become one of the most striking examples of Como’s development project.
For the player himself, the journey has been about recognising what he lacked, accepting Fàbregas’s intervention and developing into a midfielder capable of operating at international level.
For Marseille, the story is one of a transfer that never happened because of the price. For Como, it is evidence of the value of developing a player and giving him the right environment.
And for Da Cunha, the reward has been a place among France’s elite after a career that once appeared to be heading in a very different direction.