The 2009-born midfielder is among the most surprising inclusions in Roberto Mancini's latest squad, continuing the Italy coach's willingness to give opportunities to young players who have yet to establish themselves in senior football.
Cassano is not related to former Italy international Antonio Cassano, despite sharing the surname. Instead, he is a product of Como's youth system and has emerged as one of the club's most promising prospects.
The teenager has progressed through the academy to the Primavera side, but has yet to make a competitive first-team appearance under Fàbregas.
That has not stopped the Como coach from taking a close interest in his development. Cassano trained with the senior squad during pre-season and featured in a friendly against Paris FC, earning further recognition from his manager.
Fàbregas explained earlier in the year why he had become so convinced by the midfielder's ability, drawing comparisons with two of the greatest deep-lying playmakers of the modern era.
“Ricky started training with us three months before the end of the season. The first time, okay, good, nothing special. The second time, the same, but certain things made me think he was different. He simplified things.
“When you watched Busquets or Pirlo, you noticed something. If Pirlo played badly, the team played badly. The same was true of Busquets. If they played well, nobody talked about them. Do you know what that means? They had a huge influence on the team. I believe a lot in Riccardo.”
Cassano operates primarily as a defensive midfielder or deep-lying playmaker, where his tactical intelligence and ability to dictate the tempo have attracted attention.
He is comfortable receiving possession in front of the defence, has a good range of passing and can move into central midfield when required.
His qualities have already earned recognition beyond Italy. The Guardian included him in its Next Generation 2026 selection of the world's 60 most promising players born in 2009, while he has also featured in Italian rankings of the country's leading young talents.
His development is particularly significant for Como, whose ownership has placed considerable importance on bringing young players through the club rather than relying exclusively on external recruitment.
Cassano is regarded as one of the most interesting products of that approach, having grown up within the club's academy and progressed through its youth teams.
The Italy call-up represents another major milestone, although his first competitive appearance for Como's senior side remains an important target.
For Fàbregas, however, the teenager's potential is already clear. Comparisons with Busquets and Pirlo are considerable praise, but the coach's belief in Cassano suggests that Como see a player capable of becoming an important part of their future.