There was no need for interpretation by the end of the season. The numbers were clear, the recognition formal: Nico Paz was named Serie A’s Best U23 Player for 2024/25. What had started as a season focused on development became a campaign defined by output, consistency, and control.
At Como, under Cesc Fàbregas, Paz wasn’t just a starter—he was the reference. Operating as the advanced midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, sometimes morphing into a 4-3-3, he was given positional freedom between the lines and across the final third. What followed was not just positional growth but statistical dominance.
He led Como in shot-creating actions, goal-creating actions, progressive passes, passes into the penalty area, and take-ons completed. Only one player at the club had more touches in the attacking third. He scored 6 goals, assisted 8 more, and played every bit like the system’s central piece.
The pass reception map reflects this centrality. Paz frequently occupied the left half-space and the area just outside the penalty arc, combining with forwards and releasing overlapping runners. Compared to his previous roles in more rigid systems, this was a version of Paz that moved not only across the pitch but into the heart of play.
Statistically, his creative profile was among the best in Serie A. He averaged 0.36 non-penalty xG per 90 (93rd percentile), 0.26 xA (91st percentile), and attempted 2.85 shots and 1.97 key passes per game. His pass completion rate of 83.56% came on decent volume—over 37 passes per match, mostly in high-pressure zones.
He delivered the most passes into the penalty area for Como this season and consistently found teammates between lines and in wide overloads. His combinations were sharp, usually played after receiving on the half-turn or following a short carry into space.
Speaking of carries, Paz was also a leading figure in progression through movement. He often moved past the first line of pressure to draw markers and open lanes. While he wasn’t always explosive, his sense of timing and scanning allowed him to exploit small gaps and shift Como up the pitch with control.
Where the numbers are most striking is in take-ons: 135 attempted, 69 completed—both the highest at the club. These weren’t flashy dribbles but deliberate actions to beat the press, move the play vertically, or create separation. They reflect how often he received the ball under pressure and how regularly he managed to escape it.
The broader picture here is of a midfielder who was trusted not just to play—but to lead. Fàbregas described him as an 8 or a 10, but in reality, Paz was a hybrid of both: progressing, creating, and connecting phases. He didn’t just fit into Como’s structure—he helped define it.
There’s still polish to be added. He picked up six yellow cards and committed nearly 1.5 fouls per 90, occasionally mistiming his challenges when trying to win the ball back. But he remained available, consistent, and adaptable across the season.
Now comes the question of his return.
Nico Paz is not on loan at Como; he transferred from Real Madrid to Como on a permanent basis in the summer of 2024 for a fee of €6 million. However, Real Madrid retains significant control over his future through a buy-back clause that allows them to re-sign him for €9 million in 2025, €10 million in 2026, or €11 million in 2027. Additionally, Real Madrid holds 50% of any future resale value if Como sells him to another club.
Currently, Paz is under a four-year contract with Como, but his long-term future remains linked to Real Madrid due to these clauses.
With Toni Kroos retired and Luka Modrić leaving after the Club World Cup, Real Madrid are preparing for a transition in midfield. If Xabi Alonso arrives as manager, his interior players will be expected to press, combine, and rotate in small spaces—traits Paz has now been practicing for an entire season in Italy.
Whether as depth or as a rotational piece, he may not need another year away. Not after a season like this.