Nico Paz: Man United will not let Real Madrid stop transfer plan

Manchester United’s pursuit of Como playmaker Nico Paz has gathered fresh momentum after a new report indicated the Premier League giants will not be deterred by Real Madrid’s determination to re-sign the 21-year-old Argentine this summer.

Paz left the Santiago Bernabéu in July 2024 in a €6 million switch to newly promoted Serie A side Como 1907 and has since blossomed into one of Italy’s most influential attacking midfielders. Under the guidance of Como manager Cesc Fabregas, the Rosario native has showcased a game intelligence and technical security that belie his tender years.

His debut season in Lombardy yielded six goals and nine assists; the current campaign has already flipped those figures to nine goals and six assists with a third of the fixtures still remaining. Beyond the raw numbers, scouts have been struck by Paz’s capacity to orchestrate matches, drifting intelligently between the lines to connect defence and attack while setting the tempo for Como’s build-up play.

United’s interest is rooted in long-term planning at Old Trafford. Club captain Bruno Fernandes, 31, is entering the final 12 months of his contract and, although United hold an option to extend for a further season, a £57 million release clause applicable to overseas suitors has intensified speculation of a post-World Cup departure. Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal tabled a lucrative offer last summer and are expected to return with an even more persuasive package once the global tournament concludes.

Fernandes remains Erik ten Hag’s most prolific creator and a talismanic dressing-room presence, yet INEOS, United’s new football operating partner, recognise succession planning is essential. Paz has been identified as the ideal candidate to assume creative responsibility, with earlier reports suggesting a €70 million bid was being readied before Christmas.

Como are braced for a summer auction and, with the midfielder's stock continuing to rise, a fee in the region of €80 million is now anticipated. While rewarding Real Madrid so handsomely for a player they allowed to leave for a fraction of that sum 18 months ago may rankle, United’s hierarchy accept sentiment cannot cloud strategic recruitment.

The Peoples Person understands United scouts have filed glowing reports on Paz’s temperament, work rate and adaptability, and the club are increasingly confident of winning the race for his signature regardless of Madrid’s rekindled interest.

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