Javier Zanetti has seemingly already admitted defeat regarding Inter Milan‘s potential pursuit of Como star Nico Paz, indicating the Argentina international will return to Real Madrid.
Paz has been a revelation for Cesc Fabregas’ side this season, the attacking midfielder scoring 12 goals and providing six assists for Como, who still retain hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
His 18 goal involvements rank third in Serie A, behind only Inter duo Federico Dimarco (22) and Lautaro Martinez (21).
Paz joined Como from Madrid in 2024, but Los Blancos have an option to re-sign him that is active until 2027.
And Inter vice-president Zanetti firmly expects Madrid to take up that option and thwart the newly crowned Serie A champions’ hopes of signing Paz.
“I admire him, and his father is a great friend of mine,” Zanetti said of Paz at an event on Tuesday in quotes reported by Sport Mediaset.
“He would fit well in any top side, but signing him is complicated. Surely, he’ll return to Real Madrid.”
Como trail fourth-placed Juventus by three points in the race for the top four and are two points behind Roma in fifth.
Fabregas’ men do have a favourable run-in, however. They visit relegated Verona on Sunday before hosting Parma and then finishing their season against a Cremonese team that could also be relegated by that point, with those fixtures offering Paz the opportunity to further increase his value.
