Nico Paz, one of the most promising youth players from Real Madrid, was the talk of the town in June. He was strongly rumored to return to the club for the Club World Cup.
However, the story took an unexpected turn. The Argentine midfielder, only 20 years old, is still a Como player, a team he joined in 2024 for six million euros.
Real Madrid only sold 50% of his rights. The other six million euros isn't a total sale, but rather a kind of bet on the future. The club keeps the other half of his rights and also included buy-back clauses that could be exercised until 2027.
Clauses that aren't used
The first buy-back option, valued at eight million euros, has already passed and Real Madrid hasn't activated it. This has set off all the alarms in Valdebebas. Do they not trust Nico's development? Or are they waiting for him to fully break out?
Meanwhile, the young midfielder keeps shining in Italy, Como is delighted with him. Cesc Fàbregas, his coach, is shaping him in his own style, and the player keeps adding minutes and confidence. It's no coincidence that clubs like Inter Milan have already set their sights on him.
Como wants more
The big surprise has come in the last few hours. Mirwan Suwarso, Como's owner, confirmed in an interview with La Stampa that they've started talks with Real Madrid. The goal is clear: they want to keep Nico Paz in full ownership.
"We're in talks to retain him, the meetings have been positive, but it'll take time," Suwarso said. This opens a new scenario. Como no longer just wants to enjoy the Argentine for a couple of seasons, now it wants him as a key piece of its long-term project.
What about Madrid?
This is where the alarms go off. If Real Madrid doesn't act, it could lose for good one of the most promising talents to come out of La Fábrica in recent years. Everything depends on how the situation evolves, but passivity could be costly.
With the buy-back clauses active, the club still has room. But if Como manages to convince the club and close a new deal, they could keep 100% of the player's rights. Then, it would be a definitive goodbye.
Cesc and his key role
Behind all this is also the figure of Cesc Fàbregas, and Suwarso is clear about it: "We trusted his vision from the beginning. He helped us improve on the field and in mentality." Although he was rumored to leave the bench this summer, he ultimately stayed and his work with young players like Nico is showing visible results.