Fábregas blunt on Nico Paz to Inter rumours: «He’s at Como or Real Madrid» | OneFootball

While the focus is on whether he will make Argentina’s squad for the next World Cup and amid rumors of possible interest from Inter, Como manager Cesc Fàbregas came out forcefully to clarify the reports surrounding the future of talented Argentine midfielder Nicolás Paz. The Spaniard was categorical, stating that the player will play “at Como or at Real Madrid,” but not for the Nerazzurri.

“Nico is 50% a Como player, but he is ours. The only club that can say anything is Real Madrid. If I can say one thing, I know it for certain: Nico Paz will not play for Inter. Either he returns to Real Madrid or he plays for Como next year,” said the former Spanish midfielder.

The remarks came after public praise from Javier Zanetti, the Nerazzurri’s vice president, who had highlighted both the footballing qualities and personal character of the 21-year-old youngster. “I love Nico Paz, how he plays and who he is as a person. His father was my roommate at the 1998 World Cup. I’m happy about his current form; great players are obviously sought after by great clubs,” the former defender had said.

However, the coach of the Italian side made it clear that those comments did not sit entirely well with him. “Has Javier Zanetti spoken about Nico Paz? I’m sorry. Zanetti has been a very important figure in the world of football; he knows very well how things work. The only club that can say anything is Real Madrid. I know Zanetti works neither for Real Madrid nor for Como, so respect has to be shown,” he replied.

He also reiterated his stance firmly: “There are also little messages I don’t like. If you allow me to say one thing, I’m clear about this: Nico Paz will not play for Inter. Either he will return to Real Madrid or he will play for Como next season.”

The Argentine’s future depends largely on the Spanish club, which retained 50% of his rights after selling him to Como in mid-2024 for six million euros. In addition, Los Blancos kept buy-back options of nine and ten million euros for 2026 and 2027, respectively.

The midfielder’s rise has driven up his valuation. According to Transfermarkt, he currently has a market value of around 65 million euros. Last season he played 40 matches, scored 13 goals, and provided eight assists, becoming one of the standout figures of the Lombardy side.

At the same time, the player is closely monitoring the progress of discomfort in his right knee. The injury occurred against Hellas Verona and led to a member of the Argentina national team’s medical staff traveling to Italy to monitor his recovery. For now, his presence in the Serie A finale against Cremonese has not yet been confirmed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.