Nico Paz, the young prodigy who left Real Madrid for Serie A’s Como, is proving his worth in Italy.
At just 20 years old, the Spanish-Argentine midfielder has become one of the standout performers in the league, contributing two goals and four assists in 16 matches, helping Como fight to remain in the top flight.
Despite a buyback clause set at a modest price escalating from €9 to €11 million over the next few years, Real Madrid find itself in a position where signing Paz back is not feasible.
Real Madrid have their hands tied
The primary reason why it is not feasible to re-sign Paz is the intense competition within the squad for the positions he would occupy.
Nico’s style of play mirrors that of Brahim Díaz and Arda Guler, both of whom struggle for regular minutes under Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti’s preference for seasoned players over youth talent, a strategy that has been consistent during his tenure, has often led to promising talents from La Fabrica leaving the club.
This trend has seen players like Sergio Arribas, Mario Gila and Rafa Marín seek opportunities elsewhere, even though Gila has been linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Nico Paz has been phenomenal for Como this season (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
For Nico Paz, returning would likely mean warming the bench, a scenario not conducive to his rapid development.
His performances at Como under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas have not only showcased his potential but have also attracted interest from major clubs like Inter Milan.
Real Madrid now faces the dilemma of either exercising their buyback option to potentially keep a star in the making with limited game time or stepping back and watching from afar as Nico continues to grow.
There is, however, an economic opportunity Real Madrid could utilise. They can re-sign the youngster using the buyback clause and then immediately sell the player for a quick buck.
But that is not something Real Madrid think about right now, considering Paz is still in the early stages of his development.