Fabregas and eight other big-name footballers you didn't know were still playing

Cesc Fabregas looks increasingly set to join Italian minnows Como as the Spaniard extends his hugely successful career for at least another year.

Fabregas left Monaco at the end of last season after three years with the Ligue 1 side. That spell followed periods at Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea, which has seen him win eight major honours at club level.

The 35-year-old is far from the only big name star to still be playing though, with some names potentially surprising supporters. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at where nine of these players are now, including Fabregas.

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Gael Clichy

Best known for his spells at Arsenal and Manchester City, Gael Clichy won three Premier League titles during his time in England. He left City for Istanbul Basaksehir in 2017, winning the Super Lig with them three years later.

He left the Turkish side in December 2020 to sign an 18-month contract with Swiss Super League team Servette. After a third-place finish in his first season with Les Grenats, they secured sixth spot last term.

Aged 37, Clichy recently signed a new one-year deal with Servette to extend his stay in Switzerland. It is expected that he could now see out the final years of his career with the club.

Cesc Fabregas

After an injury-hit final season at Monaco restricted him to just five appearances, Fabregas is close to joining Serie B side Como as a free agent. Reports in Italy claim that the midfielder has come to a verbal agreement with Como.

He will sign a two-year contract with the Italian minnows and is expected to fly out next month to complete his medical. They finished 13th in the Italian second tier last season, with former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise currently their head of sports operations.

Joaquin

Joaquin's love story with Real Betis shows no sign of ending any time soon after the club legend signed a new contract in July. That means that that he will play for the La Liga side beyond his 41st birthday.

It has been a remarkable career for the winger, who made his senior debut 22 years ago. He has frequently spoken of his love for the club, who made him a shareholder three years ago in recognition of his efforts.

"It didn't take long for me to start loving these colours. It was a dream I had as a child to train and play for the team. When you're lucky enough to make it, you love it forever," he told BBC Sport in 2019.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Thirteen years after delivering one of the Premier League's most iconic celebrations, Emmanuel Adebayor is still plying a trade as a striker. Adebayor turned out for Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham earlier in his career.

But he has been something of a journeyman since departing Spurs for Crystal Palace. The 38-year-old now plays for Togo giants Semassi, who hold the record for winning the most titles in the African country.

Andres Iniesta

While his former midfield partner at Barcelona, Xavi, has now taken charge of the La Liga giants, Andres Iniesta is continuing his career in Japan. He joined Vissel Kobe in 2018, winning the Emperor's Cup and the Japanese Super Cup, as well as the adulation of his team-mates.

"He didn't come here to finish his career. He came to win and you can see it in the training and locker room. I think bringing him into the team opened the path for other world-class players to come in and it attracted a lot of people to watch the J1 League and Vissel Kobe," Kobe star Leo Osaki told Stats Perform last year.

"For him playing with us, since the first day he came, there was a positive reaction. Watching him from behind, it's a dream come true because most of us were just watching him on TV. Playing wise, he demands a lot from everybody."

Lee Trundle

A cult hero at Swansea City, Lee Trundle actually retired from professional football in 2013. But three years later he was tempted into returning for Welsh lower league side Llanelli Town.

Having fired them to two successive promotions with 86 goals in his two campaigns, he left in 2018. The 45-year-old now turns out for Ammanford in the Cymru South, revealing he'll carry on playing for as long as he can make an impact.

"I just love playing football. There's no time limit on it. I'll keep playing for as long as I can. I think I'll stop when I know that I'm not having an impact on games and I think I'll know that myself," he told iNews in 2020.

Roque Santa Cruz

A fan favourite at Blackburn Rovers before joining Manchester City, Roque Santa Cruz is still putting fear into the hearts of defenders. After six years with Paraguayan side Olimpia Asunción, he moved to Libertad in January.

That move was greeted by a great deal of animosity from Olimpia fans, with Santa Cruz losing thousands of social media followers. Even at the age of 40, Santa Cruz is still able to deliver, scoring 10 goals this season.

Shunsuke Nakamura

Having become a cult hero at Celtic, Shunsuke Nakamura had a brief spell with Espanyol before returning to Japan in 2010. Nakamura is now 44, but continues to play for second division side Yokohama FC, insisting he uses his experience to keep up with play.

"My physical strength is obviously lower than when I was younger. On the other hand, I think I also control my mentality better than before because of my experience. And of course, I do my best to take care of my physical condition and I pay more attention to it than when I was young," he told The Guardian last year.

Sebastian Larsson

A cult figure at Birmingham City after helping them to win the League Cup in 2011, Sebastian Larsson was also a fan favourite at Sunderland and Hull City. He returned to his native Sweden to play for AIK in 2018.

His first season at the club proved to be highly successful as they won the Swedish title for the first time in nine years. Larsson is still playing at the age of 37, making seven appearances last campaign.