Nico Paz could have returned to Real Madrid this summer. The Spanish giants were interested in bringing their former player back to the Santiago Bernabéu, but the attacking midfielder ultimately decided to stay at Como and continue his development in Italy.
Very few players turn down Real Madrid when the opportunity arises, but Nico Paz chose to do exactly that. The Argentine midfielder believed that remaining at Como would offer him more playing time and a better environment to continue progressing at this stage of his career.
Returning to Madrid would have meant competing for minutes in one of the most talented squads in Europe. With players such as Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler already occupying important roles in midfield and attacking areas, Paz was concerned that he would not receive enough opportunities to develop consistently.
As a result, the 21-year-old decided to remain in Italy, where he has become a key figure for Cesc Fàbregas’ team.
Como eventually activated the option to keep him permanently, paying €60 million to Real Madrid. However, the Spanish club have not completely closed the door on a future reunion. Real Madrid reportedly retained a buy-back clause worth €80 million, which could allow them to bring Paz back next summer if they decide he is ready to play an important role at the Bernabéu.
For now, though, Paz appears completely focused on Como — and his latest performance showed exactly why he wanted to stay.
In his first Champions League appearance with the Italian club, the Argentine produced an outstanding display. Paz provided two assists as Como secured an impressive 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig on Thursday.
After the match, he made it clear that he had no regrets about rejecting the possibility of returning to Real Madrid.
“I made the right decision.”
Speaking to Sky Italia, Paz explained the reasoning behind his choice.
“It is for nights like this that I wanted to stay,” he said. “I knew this was the place where I could develop the most, and I am very happy with my decision. I made the right decision.”
🚨 Como paid €60M to keep Nico Paz permanently.
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 11, 2026
Real Madrid still hold an €80M BUYBACK option for next year. @diarioas pic.twitter.com/zFAUawTzGc
His words underline the importance of regular playing time for young footballers. Rather than returning immediately to one of the biggest clubs in the world, Paz preferred to remain in an environment where he could continue playing, learning and taking on greater responsibility.
The midfielder is not unfamiliar with the Champions League. During his time at Real Madrid, he had already featured in Europe’s biggest club competition and even scored against Napoli.
However, his situation at Como is completely different. Instead of being a promising youngster fighting for occasional minutes, Paz is now one of the most important players in the team.
Under Cesc Fàbregas, he has been given the freedom and confidence to express his talent, and his performance against Leipzig was another indication of his growing maturity.
Real Madrid may still be watching him closely, especially with their buy-back option in place. But for the moment, Nico Paz has chosen continuity over prestige — and judging by his performances, that decision is already paying off.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to react.