Nico Paz open to rejecting Real Madrid return as Como buy-back deadline looms

Nico Paz has told Real Madrid he would prefer to remain at Como for the 2026-27 season, casting doubt over a return to the Bernabéu that had long been considered a formality. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the 21-year-old midfielder is willing to accept a recall if the club insist, but his preference is to stay in Italy for at least one more year.

Real Madrid have a buy-back clause in Paz’s contract with Como and must activate it within the next two weeks or wait until 2027 to exercise the option. For much of this season, the expectation inside the club was that Paz would be back in Madrid this summer, making his recent reservations a notable shift in the situation.

Paz has been one of Serie A’s standout performers across two seasons at Como, and last weekend he helped Cesc Fàbregas’ side secure Champions League qualification — a result that appears to have strengthened his attachment to the project. The combination of that achievement and his comfort at the club has made him reluctant to cut short his time there.

Should he return, Paz would have a place in the Real Madrid squad, but it is unlikely to carry the same prominence he currently enjoys at Como. That prospect may be a factor in his thinking, given the level of consistent playing time he has accumulated in Serie A.

The final call rests with Real Madrid rather than the player. Incoming manager José Mourinho, who is set to take charge this summer, could have a significant say in whether the club push ahead with the buy-back now or allow Paz another season of development in Italy before bringing him home in 2027.