Real Madrid has cancelled its expected pursuit of a former academy star that can return to the club … More
Real Madrid has cancelled its expected pursuit of a former academy star that can return to the club according to AS, which cited a report from transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano using anonymous sources.
Madrid sold Nico Paz to Como last summer, after the Argentina international scored in the Champions League and therefore picked up a winners’ medal in the elite continental competition to compliment others in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup as Carlo Ancelotti sealed an impressive treble in 2024/2025.
The moneyed Italians paid $7.3 million (€6.3 million) for 50% of Paz’s rights yet Madrid retained buyback options across the next three seasons for youngster as he continues to learn under FC Barcelona legend Cesc Fabregas.
To be more specific, Madrid can pay $9.3 million (€8 million) for him this summer, $10.5 million (€9 million) in 2026 or $11.6 million (€10 million) in 2027.
In his last weeks before being replaced by Xabi Alonso and taking the Brazil national team post, Ancelotti tipped Paz to become the future of the club and admitted that Madrid had been keeping tabs on him.
“Nico Paz is a player we follow a lot. He’s very good and he’s very talented. This season away from Real Madrid is very good for him. We believe that he is a player who can be the future of Real Madrid,” Ancelotti explained, to Italian outlet Rai Radio.
Because of this, there were reports that Paz could complete the “Carvajal route” in 2025 in being a La Fabrica product sold by his boyhood club yet returning to the first team after gaining valuable experience elsewhere.
According to Romano, however, that won’t be happening any time soon. “Real Madrid confirmed to Como that they won’t activate the €8 million buy back clause for Nico Paz, also formal communication has arrived,” Romano tweeted.
“Como plan to keep Paz this summer and then Real will have €9 million buy back clause for next summer,” he then added.
Real Madrid should still make improvements to the squad
Be that as it may, Real Madrid will still look to make improvements to the first team squad by trying to sign another central defender and a left back in Alvaro Carreras from Benfica. As part of a major overhaul, two midfielders are reportedly sought in the medium term.