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Nico Paz dreams of Real Madrid but director gives Premier League clubs hope
Tom Weber
- Updated: 18 Oct 2025 19:03 BST
- 4 min read
News
Como superstar Nico Paz is poised to return to Real Madrid in the future, but the Serie A club's sporting director has now given Premier League suitors hope.
The Argentine has been the best young player in Italy's top flight since joining Cesc Fabregas' ambitious Como project last year. Paz is currently contributing to a goal a game, having scored three times and provided three assists in six Serie A outings.
Already in the summer, Paz attracted the attention of Premier League clubs with his exploits. Tottenham were reportedly ready to pay as much as €70 million for the wonderkid, but the approach was rebuffed by Como - and Real Madrid.
Current ETV
Nico Paz
AM, M (C)
Como
Nico Paz
AM, M (C)
Como
ETV Range
€39.8M - €48.7M
The Italian club do not need the money. They are backed by a wealthy Indonesian tobacco company and have arguably football's most unique business model. They are refusing to sell their best players because they want to build an exciting team that can attract tourists visiting Lake Como.
However, Como were not alone in snubbing Tottenham. The decisive veto actually came from Real Madrid, who have full control over Paz's future. When they sold him to Italy last year, they inserted staggered buy-back clauses as well as a sell-on percentage in the deal.
Paz to return to Real Madrid unless...
After much deliberation, Real Madrid opted against exercising their first buy-back clause this summer as they felt it would be better for Paz's development to stay at Como and continue being a regular starter.
However, it is fully expected that they will bring him back in 2026. Moreover, given the good relationship between the two clubs, Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to fairly remunerate Como, so they will actually pay more for Paz than is stipulated in the clause.
A move to the Premier League is therefore highly improbable. However, Como director Carlalberto Ludi has now claimed that the situation could change if an "incredible team" were to make a "higher offer" for Paz.
"It’s normal that until something is finalised, I can’t comment," he began. "Nico is a player they [Real Madrid] developed, an extraordinary talent, who is thriving in one of Europe’s top leagues.
"Real Madrid can exercise their buyback right. He plays in a league where there are many Real Madrid players. Everyone’s talking about him, and perhaps it’s also Nico’s legitimate desire [to return], for a kid who grew up in that environment.”
"Real Madrid is certainly appreciative of the fact that we worked well with Nico, and also with Jacobo Ramon. How will it be finalised? I don’t know. There is a written contract and rights. [He will return] unless an incredible team arrives and makes a higher offer."
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