As if the Lake Como Tourism board needed any help, Trevoh Chalobah provided it on Monday afternoon, explaining why every English footballer should add a European adventure to his CV and why this picturesque Italian city in particular is worth visiting.
For one, George Clooney is a neighbour of Chalobah’s. ’Funnily enough, I went on a boat, and I drove past his house,’ the Como and England defender said of the American actor, speaking ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s fourth and final Nations League clash of this international break against the Czech Republic at Wembley.
‘It’s a really nice place, by the lake, the food is great, the weather is nice, and the people and the club have really helped me settle in. I suggest you guys should go there.
‘Football is unpredictable. One moment you can be here, the next moment you can be in a different team in a different country. I think it’s very important to get that into your CV, into your career. As a player, it’s good to try different leagues. I played in the Premier League for many years so it was the right time to move to Serie A and hopefully have another successful time.’
England have an entire crop competing abroad, such as Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Barcelona’s Anthony Gordon, and Real Madrid duo Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Along with Chalobah, when they all played the Czechs in the reverse fixture in Prague, it was the first time that five players from non-English clubs had appeared for England in a competitive game.
Trevoh Chalobah is loving life playing for Como and ejnjoying the scenery (Instagram: chalobah)
The star says he likes the food and that Como are helping him to settle in (Instagram: chalobah)
Chalobah, 27, does not regret leaving Chelsea after almost 20 years on the Blues’ books. He signed for Cesc Fabregas’ Como in a summer deal worth more than £30million. He is still learning the language – four Italian lessons per week – and was then joined by a familiar face in Robert Sanchez, the goalkeeper on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
‘I’m really happy with what I did there, what I achieved,’ Chalobah said of Chelsea, his home since he was an Under-Nine. ‘Everything has tested me, everything has strengthened me, it’s a testament to my faith.
‘Growing up at Chelsea, with what they did for me, and how they allowed me to get to the first team, I enjoyed every moment, the trophies I won, the big games I played in. It’s been amazing. I felt now was the right time to try something different and try something new.
‘There are a lot of players from the Premier League now in Italy. Obviously Rob Sanchez as well – he didn’t want to leave me alone! But the league is good, great players, good teams. It’s more tactical. The Premier League is very fast, very physical, but I think over there is more tactical.’
Chalobah describes Fabregas – the Spaniard who, helpfully for his international changing room, also speaks English, Italian and French – as a ‘brilliant’, ’passionate’, ‘winning’ coach.
His transfer to Como followed his World Cup debut as a late substitute in England’s third-placed play-off versus France. That allowed Chalobah to tick off another achievement on a goals board he has at home.
‘Whether it’s three minutes or two seconds, it was an amazing feeling to come on in that game, to make my World Cup debut,’ the central defender said.
He had been called up to the England squad as a replacement for the injured Tino Livramento. At the time, Chalobah was on holiday in New York, and had a hotel booked for a leg in Los Angeles. He never received a refund.
George Clooney is one of Chalobah’s neighbours – the footballer went past his house on a boat
‘But I don’t really care about that,’ Chalobah added. ‘I managed to complete something I always wanted to do and that’ll be remembered for life.’
Facing Kane and Co in England training, Chalobah suggests those sessions can be tougher than the actual games. ‘Most definitely,’ Chalobah answered when asked that question.
‘It can only improve you as a player when you’re training with elite players,’ he said. ‘The confidence is up. It’s a collective thing with the clubs that they play in now. Then obviously Gordon as well, the level he’s reached now. With Jude, we all knew he had that level.
‘Coming back from the World Cup it’s been another spike for him and it’s great to have those players.’
