Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi is travelling to Madrid to hold urgent talks with Real Madrid over the future of Argentine midfielder Nico Paz. The Serie A club hope to persuade the Spanish giants not to trigger a €9m buy-back clause that would end Paz’s two-year stay at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Como Push to Retain Midfielder
The 21-year-old has become a pivotal figure for Como, who are preparing for their debut season in the UEFA Champions League following promotion. However, his status remains uncertain due to favourable terms agreed when he joined from Real Madrid in 2023. The original transfer included a 50 per cent sell-on clause and the low-cost buy-back option that Madrid can activate during this summer window.
Paz appears settled at Como and is believed to favour continuing his development under manager Cesc Fabregas. This preference strengthens Como’s negotiating position as they attempt to reach a compromise with Madrid that would see the buy-back option deferred or removed entirely.
Inter Face Financial Hurdle
Inter Milan have also registered strong interest in Paz, though any move to San Siro would require a significantly higher outlay. Reports indicate the Nerazzurri would need to bid approximately €60m to secure the midfielder, a sum that necessitates substantial player sales before any approach can be made.
Inter’s financial flexibility is already compromised by other recruitment plans. The club has reportedly allocated €50m to sign Marco Palestra from Atalanta, leaving minimal room in the budget for further major acquisitions without first generating funds through departures.
To finance a potential bid for Paz, Inter could offload several squad members. Alexander Stankovic, valued at around €40m, heads the list of potential departures alongside Davide Frattesi, Luis Henrique, Ange-Yoan Bonny and Andy Diouf. The club also expects to move on loan players including Benjamin Pavard, Kristjan Asllani and Ebenizer Akinsanmiro.
What Happens Next
The coming days will prove decisive as Ludi seeks to secure Paz’s services for the club’s historic first European campaign. Should Madrid insist on exercising their buy-back right, Inter stand ready to compete for his signature, provided they can first balance their books through sales.
The battle for Paz highlights the complex modern transfer landscape where clubs negotiate intricate buy-back and sell-on clauses to protect their interests in young talent. For Como, retaining Paz represents a statement of intent as they step onto the European stage, while Real Madrid must decide whether to bring the midfielder back into their squad or allow him to continue gaining valuable experience in Italy.