Real Madrid Won't Miss the Bargain: Nico Paz Returns to the Bernabéu via a €9 Million Clause

Real Madrid are putting into action one of the smartest strategies in the transfer market. According to reports in the Spanish press, the capital club have decided to use the buy-back clause in the contract to re-sign young star Nico Paz, whom they sold to Como two years ago. This move will make the Argentine midfielder, who is approaching 22, the club's first signing for the 2026-27 season.

The most striking aspect of this decision is the cost of the transfer. According to reports, Real Madrid will re-add the player, whom Transfermarkt values at around €65 million, to their squad for just €9 million. This figure stems from the staggered buy-back clause set in the sale agreement two years ago: the clause was arranged as €9 million for 2026 and €10 million for 2027.

The process also has a time dimension. According to AS, the deadline for Real Madrid to officially trigger this clause is May 30. But it is stated that the club has no intention of waiting until the last moment and has already made its decision. It is reported that internal assessments at Valdebebas concluded that the 2026-27 season is the ideal time for the player to reintegrate into the first team.

Nico Paz becoming so valuable is directly related to the breakout he experienced at Como. The young player, who left Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, quickly became one of Serie A's brightest names in Italy. Standing out with goals and assists at Como under Cesc Fàbregas, Paz won the "Serie A Young Player of the Year" award and became an important part of the Argentina national team, which also features Lionel Messi.

Buy-back clauses are a classic strategy that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez applies to academy players. Rather than loaning out young players, the club sells them with a buy-back option, reserving the right to re-add the player to the squad if he shines. This method had also been applied before with names such as Álvaro Morata. The Paz example is regarded as one of the most successful results of this strategy.

Real Madrid's determination on this matter showed itself in the recent period too. According to reports, the capital club had blocked Tottenham's offer of more than €70 million for the player using their priority rights. In this process, in which clubs like Inter also had an interest in the player, Real Madrid kept the player's future entirely under control by holding the clause.

In conclusion, according to reports in the Spanish press, Nico Paz is on the verge of returning to Real Madrid at a very favorable price. But the rather crowded nature of the capital club's midfield also raises question marks about the player's role in the team. Still, Real Madrid re-adding one of the future star candidates to their squad at a bargain price stands out as a strategic success for the club.

Source: Based on reports by AS, Goal, and Fabrizio Romano (the Tottenham bid). The process is in the nature of claims; no official statement has been made yet.