Como have moved quickly to bring Nico Paz back to the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, with the club ready to invest €60 million to keep the Argentine talent under Cesc Fabregas for another season.
The move comes just after Real Madrid exercised their buy-back option on the 21-year-old, a clause reportedly worth around €9 million. However, rather than keeping Paz at the Bernabeu, the Spanish giants are now set to send him back to Como in a deal that still keeps Madrid in control of his long-term future.
As part of the agreement being discussed, Real Madrid would retain a new buy-back clause worth around €80 million, valid for the next summer transfer window. That would allow Como to keep their star man for their historic Champions League campaign, while Madrid preserve a clear route to bring him back if his development continues at the same pace. For Como, this is a major statement.
Paz was one of the standout players in Serie A last season, playing a key role in Fabregas’ remarkable campaign. His creativity, technical quality and ability to decide matches made him central to Como’s rise, and the club wasted no time in making their move once Madrid’s intentions became clear.
The player’s own preference has also been important. Paz is understood to be happy in Como and keen to continue working under Fabregas, where he has become one of the focal points of the team.
The decision is also a blow for Inter. The Nerazzurri had been watching the situation closely and were ready to explore a possible move if Real Madrid had opened the door to a sale elsewhere. Inter’s interest was helped by the strong relationship between Javier Zanetti and Pablo Paz, Nico’s father and former Argentina team-mate.
But Como have acted first — and acted decisively. The deal shows how far the club has come in such a short time. From newly promoted side to Champions League qualifiers, Como are now behaving like a club determined to compete at the highest level.
For Real Madrid, it is smart business. They make a significant profit now, avoid forcing Paz into a squad where minutes may be limited, and still keep a future option on one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders.
