FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on June 18, 2026 8:00 pm | Updated on June 18, 2026 6:09 pm The Argentine midfielder looks set to remain at Como, snubbing a move to North London.
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The summer transfer window has produced another twist. Nico Paz, one of football’s most exciting young midfielders, looks set to stay in Italy despite strong Arsenal interest, as per the latest transfer news coming out of Europe.
Mourinho meeting tips the scales for Nico Paz
The story began to take shape once José Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid. One of his first priorities was sitting down with players linked to the club, and Nico Paz was among them. As reported by GOAL, the two held a direct conversation about where the 21-year-old fits into Mourinho’s plans for next season.
The outcome was telling. Mourinho was straightforward with the Argentine; he couldn’t promise him regular starts. The Portuguese manager is building a squad around experienced arrivals, with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Denzel Dumfries already coming in. For a young midfielder who has been starting nearly every game in Serie A, that kind of uncertainty was hard to overlook.
Nico Paz for Como in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
Serie A 35 12 6
Coppa Italia 5 1 1
It’s worth noting that Paz just wrapped up a brilliant 2025-26 campaign, finishing it as the best midfielder in Serie A, as reported by Yahoo Sports. He scored 13 goals and added 7 assists in 40 appearances for Como. Walking away from that kind of momentum for a bench role at the Bernabeu made little sense.
The Fabregas factor and what it means for Nico Paz
Cesc Fabregas has been central to everything. The Gunners were watching closely and had reportedly expressed interest, but the Argentine’s bond with his current manager has made any exit difficult to push forward.
As reported by ESPN, the attacking midfielder has settled well at Como and sees no reason to walk away. Much of that comes down to Fabregas, who has taken a personal interest in his growth rather than simply managing him from the touchline. He has promised him a vital role in the team going forward. That kind of trust is hard to find, especially at 21.
Como has also made their ambitions clear. This is a club on the rise, and its manager has built a genuine project in northern Italy. For the Argentine, staying means continuity, confidence, and genuine leadership within the side.
Champions League pull proves decisive
Perhaps the biggest reason Nico Paz is staying is the one nobody could have predicted a few years ago. Como is heading into the Champions League. As reported by Yahoo Sports, the Italian club earned its place in European football’s premier club competition for the first time in its history, and it’s a moment the squad wants to be part of together.
As reported by Yahoo Sports, Paz informed Real Madrid of his preference directly after meeting the club’s directors. His contract at Como runs until 2028, and Los Blancos still hold a buy-back option worth €9 million this summer, rising to €10 million in 2027. But exercising it, only to have an unhappy player on their hands, isn’t in anyone’s interest.
For the Gunners, this is a significant blow. Mikel Arteta’s side were tracking him as a potential addition to their midfield, and the appeal of Premier League football didn’t sway him. The reality is that he is in a situation few players his age enjoy, clear playing time, a manager who believes in him, and the Champions League ahead. There was never going to be an easy case to make against that.
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Eishna Rawat
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