Como wrap up Nico Paz: a 60-million-euro deal

The future of Nico Paz, one of the standout players of the summer transfer window, has become clear. Real Madrid triggered the buyback clause written into the contract of the young player they sent to Como in 2024, re-adding him to their squad this summer for 9 million euros. The Spanish club then sold the 21-year-old Argentine star back to Como for 60 million euros. Paz will thus continue his career in Italy.

The structure of the deal was a typical example of Real Madrid's strategy to retain control over young players. In the original 2024 sale, the Spanish giants had embedded a tiered buyback clause into the contract: 8 million euros for summer 2025, 9 million euros for summer 2026, 10 million euros for summer 2027. Madrid, by not exercising the 8-million-euro option last summer, gave Paz another season of development in Serie A, then activated the clause this summer.

After re-signing the player, Real Madrid sold him to Como for 60 million euros while continuing to retain 50 percent of the proceeds of any future sale. Additionally, according to some reports, Madrid added a new 80-million-euro buyback option to the deal should Como wish to keep the player permanently in the future. These mechanisms allow the Spanish club to retain control over the player's future.

Paz, who enjoyed an impressive breakout in his two seasons at Como, played an important role under head coach Cesc Fàbregas in the team finishing in the Serie A top four and qualifying for the Champions League. The young player, who also features regularly for Argentina alongside Lionel Messi, chose to stay at Como aware that it would be difficult to find regular minutes in the shadow of stars like Valverde, Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham at Madrid. The strong collaboration between the two clubs was also decisive in this transfer going through.

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