Nico Paz will stay at Como but Real Madrid will have the opportunity to re-sign the player in the future, both clubs have confirmed.
The Athletic reported on Friday that the Spanish side were expecting to receive €60million ($68.4m; £51.77m) from the Italian club Como following renegotiations over the 21-year-old midfielder.
Como and Real Madrid have now announced that Paz will remain in Serie A next season. A statement from Como said that: “At the player’s own request, this agreement also stipulates that Real Madrid retains the right to reacquire Paz’s registration for the 2027–2028 season.”
Paz posted on his Instagram story: “After many weeks of reflection, I have decided that the best option for my career at this time is to stay at the club for another year, the club that gave me the opportunity to grow and become the player I am today.
“I personally believe this is the best decision for both me and Real Madrid, as it is a very important year at this stage of my career and a unique opportunity to continue growing as a footballer and prepare myself in the best way for the future.”
Paz is currently at the World Cup with Argentina. He has featured in two of their three games so far, starting the 3-1 victory over Jordan on June 28.
Madrid, where Paz came through the academy, opted not to activate a €8million (£6.9m) buy-back clause for Paz last summer, but they retain a €9m clause for 2026 and a €10m clause for 2027.
The expectation had been that Madrid would activate the buy-back clause to bring Paz back to the Bernabeu, but he informed the club he would be happy to stay at Como for another season if he is unlikely to feature.
Madrid have appointed Jose Mourinho as head coach this summer, replacing Alvaro Arbeloa, who led the team since January following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva — who could be seen as competition for Paz — was brought in on a free transfer, with defenders Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella also signed.
The Athletic reported last summer that Tottenham were interested in the midfielder, though Como had no intention of losing him.
Comunicado Oficial: Nico Paz
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 29, 2026
Paz recorded 12 goals and seven assists for Como in the 2025-26 season, helping the side finish fourth in just their second season back in the Italian top-flight, and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Over the course of his two seasons at Como, Paz has made 75 appearances, scoring 19 times and providing 17 assists.
After coming through the academy at Real Madrid, Paz made his senior debut for the club’s reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, as a 17-year-old in January 2022. He went on to make 54 appearances for the side, recording seven goals and 12 assists.
His first-team debut came against Braga in the Champions League in October 2023 and scored his first goal for the team in a 4-2 victory in the competition over Italian side Napoli.
Paz only appeared eight times for Madrid and he was sold to Como in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth in the region of €6m. He made his senior debut for the Argentina national side in October, and has gone on to win 11 caps.
