Arsenal are reportedly making an audacious attempt to derail Real Madrid’s carefully laid plans for one of Europe’s most coveted young talents, Nico Paz. Despite the Spanish giants having a verbal agreement and a low-cost buy-back clause, Mikel Arteta’s side is trying to persuade the Argentine playmaker to choose the Premier League over a return to the Bernabéu.
Paz, dubbed a “$100M Starlet” by industry sources, has exploded onto the scene since moving to Como in Serie A in the summer of 2024, flourishing under the guidance of former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.
🔥 The €100 Million Talent in Serie A
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has established himself as one of the best creative forces in Italy’s top flight. His output has been sensational, recording:
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2024/25 Season (Serie A): 6 goals and 8 assists in 30 starts.
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2025/26 Season (Current): A continuation of his red-hot form with 4 goals and 4 assists already in just 11 league matches.
Como’s manager, the legendary Cesc Fabregas, has offered ringing endorsements of Paz, stating: “Nico is a champion… He can get to wherever he wants if he carries on with this hunger and humility. The talent and physicality are there.”
This dazzling form has naturally alerted Europe’s elite, but it is Real Madrid who believe they have the transfer locked down.
👑 The Real Madrid Roadblock: A €9 Million Buy-Back
The major complication for Arsenal and other suitors is the contractual leverage held by Paz’s former club. Real Madrid sold Paz to Como for a nominal fee in 2024 but crucially inserted a verbal promise to re-sign him and, more importantly, a buy-back clause in his contract.
This clause allows Los Blancos to trigger his return for a mere €9 million (£8m, $10.5m) in the summer of 2026. Given his soaring reputation and projected market value of €100 million in the coming years, this represents an extraordinary bargain for Real Madrid.
Spanish media remains adamant that Paz will honor this promise and make his much-anticipated return to the Spanish capital next summer.
🎯 Arsenal’s Intervention: A Direct Approach
Despite the looming threat of the buy-back clause, Arsenal is undeterred. According to reports, the Gunners are actively in talks with Paz’s representatives in an attempt to convince him to consider a Premier League move to the Emirates Stadium.
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The Proposition: Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal—a club known for developing young talent—is being positioned as a more immediate and exciting step for the Argentine than returning to a star-studded Real Madrid squad where playing time might not be guaranteed.
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Competition: Arsenal is not alone. Chelsea has made an “official enquiry”, while Tottenham Hotspur, who had a significant initial approach rejected last summer, and even Liverpool and Manchester City are all said to be tracking the playmaker closely.
However, sources reveal a significant blow for the Gunners: the player’s heart seems set on a return to Spain. Transfer journalist Graeme Bailey stated that Paz is “standing firm” and “has his heart set on Real”, believing he will be a key player for them in the near future.
⚖️ The Verdict: Project vs. Dream
For Arsenal, signing Paz would be a statement of intent, bolstering an already creative midfield alongside players like Martin Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze. However, this transfer saga boils down to a fundamental choice for Nico Paz:
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The Dream Return: Honoring his word and completing a bargain return to boyhood club Real Madrid to compete at the highest level.
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The Premier League Project: Taking a potentially faster track to superstardom and a guaranteed central role under Arteta at Arsenal, turning his back on his former club for a massive market move.
While the contract clauses heavily favor Real Madrid, the sheer volume of elite interest, led by Arsenal, suggests that the final chapter of the Nico Paz transfer saga is far from written.