According to Diario AS, Nico Paz, who spent last season on loan, has opted to continue his development away from the Santiago Bernabéu, after realizing his first-team minutes would be significantly reduced by Mastantuono’s arrival. The 19-year-old Argentine was weighing up a possible return to Madrid this summer, but the club’s acquisition of Mastantuono has effectively blocked his pathway.
Mastantuono, just 16 years old, has been fast-tracked into Real Madrid’s long-term midfield project, joining an elite group of generational talents that includes Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, and Eduardo Camavinga. With such fierce competition for places, Paz concluded that regular first-team football elsewhere would better serve his development.
The talented midfielder has therefore decided to continue with Como in Italy, where he is expected to play a key role next season. Paz joined Como earlier this summer, and with the Serie A side offering consistent playing time, it presents the ideal platform for him to grow — rather than fighting for scraps in a packed Madrid midfield.
While Real Madrid remains keen to monitor his progress, the door for an immediate return appears closed, at least in the short term. Mastantuono’s presence has simply accelerated Madrid’s midfield evolution, leaving little room for fringe players to stake their claim.
