Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi has expressed confidence that midfielder Nico Paz will remain with the club next season after restructuring the player’s contractual relationship with Real Madrid.
The Serie A side have negotiated a complex deal that sees them acquire the remaining 50 per cent of Paz’s economic rights for €60m, establishing a new buy-back arrangement with the Spanish giants. Real Madrid retain an €80m buy-back option, though this can only be activated during June 2027, effectively securing the midfielder’s services for at least two more campaigns.
This arrangement represents a dramatic shift from Paz’s original transfer to Como, which was completed for €6m with a modest €9m buy-back clause. That structure had fuelled widespread speculation that Real Madrid would either exercise their right to recall the player or broker a lucrative sale this summer, with Inter among the clubs reportedly monitoring his availability.
Ludi revealed that the club maintained calm throughout the process despite external interest. “We do not think about what others do, but on what we can control,” he told reporters. “We could control our rapport with Real Madrid, we could control the rapport with Nico Paz and his agents. We felt confident that we could control the situation after two fantastic seasons together.”
The director credited head coach Cesc Fabregas with convincing the player to commit to the project, particularly after Como secured historic Champions League qualification. “His desire to stay was decisive,” Ludi admitted. “We’ve got to thank Nico, but also the inspirational abilities of Fabregas, who for talents of this level represents a strategic element for Como.”
The retention of Paz represents a major coup for the Serie A side as they prepare for next season’s Champions League campaign. However, Ludi dismissed suggestions that Como are competing with Inter for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. “I will only define a player as an objective when there are negotiations in place,” he stated. “As of today, there are no negotiations for Chalobah.”
The director was more circumspect when asked about Catanzaro and Italy Under-19 midfielder Mattia Liberali, describing him as “a very talented player” while acknowledging that he could not predict future developments.