Real Madrid have so many problems behind the scenes to work out this summer, including the rampant ego problem in the dressing room that even hiring one of the best managers ever, Jose Mourinho, may not solve.
But they also need to add better players to the defense and midfield so that they can get back to competing for Champions League and La Liga titles again. Perhaps the easiest addition they can make to upgrade their squad is bringing Nico Paz back after a sensational, near Ballon d'Or caliber season for Como, as the Argentinian international would cost just nine million euros for Los Blancos.
While Real Madrid, in theory, should have all the power over Paz's future since they own half his rights and his buy back clause, it may not be so simple. Paz's own free will comes into the equation, and if he is looking at the dysfunction at Real Madrid and trepidatious about what that might mean for him, that's key leverage Real lose - and Florentino Perez probably doesn't want a young player who doesn't 100 percenet want to be at the Bernabeu.
Nico Paz may not be coming in 2026
Serie A giants and current champions Inter Milan are going to be heavily interested, but Real Madrid also have to worry about Como. The club's sporting director Ludi recently told the media about Nico Paz, “We will try to keep Nico Páz at the club for one more season.”
And it would make one thousand percent sense for Como to do everything in their power to keep Paz for another year. With Paz, Como are in the Champions League race, and they are one of the best teams in Italian football, capable of going toe to toe with Inter Milan. And Paz, even above Federico Dimarco and Lautaro Martinez for the Nerazzurri, has been the best player in the league this season.
Real Madrid would love to have Paz back, and there are some who view the Argentinian as the heir to Luka Modric and more than just a No. 10, based on how much he is affecting games as a ball progressor and ball winner - even beyond the incredible goals and assists - for Como.
But Como could make a convincing argument for Paz to stay and continue to be the centerpiece of the Cesc Fabregas project, away from a dysfunctional Madrid that is figuring things out. And Como can make the case for delaying Paz's return amicably with Real Madrid, working out a deal to wait until 2027 for him to move permanently to Real.
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