Former Real Madrid academy star will not return this summer – report

Former Real Madrid academy star will not return this summer – report Nico Paz left Real Madrid to join Como years ago only because he felt he would be too far down the pecking order to have meaningful minutes. He furthered his development in Serie A and came up as one of the best players in Cesc Fabregas’ side, earning Real Madrid’s interest once more and securing the chance to return home. Until a week ago, his return to Real Madrid seemed certain but all the player asked for was regular minutes. Matters have now changed, and so has the situation of the Argentine star. Paz has taken a U-turn As reported by Alberto Pereira (h/t The Madrid Zone ) in a recent update, Paz is  no longer close  to completing a return to his boyhood club. In fact, the journalist makes it clear that the player will not be a Real Madrid player next season. Real Madrid have no place to accommodate Nico Paz. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) The reason for his change of mind remains unknown, although it is speculated to have a lot to do with Real Madrid’s signing of Bernardo Silva and the urgency on the transfer market to sign new midfielders. Paz was already set to compete with Jude Bellingham and Arda Guler for a starting spot in his niche position, and with Silva now in the mix as well, he will once again have no guarantee of meaningful minutes. Returning at this stage thus defeats the entire purpose of why he was pushing to come home and will see him back in the same place on the pecking order. What’s next for Paz? The Argentine phenom has taken massive strides in his development under Fabregas in recent years, and with the option of a return home fading now, he is likely to continue at the Italian club. Nico Paz is likely to continue at Como for another season. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images) From Real Madrid’s perspective as well, it only makes sense for the midfielder to polish his skills for another year while Jose Mourinho unravels the mess in the dressing room. A year down the line, they will still have a buy-back clause and can rope him in if the manager deems fit. Bringing him back too early, however, would unnecessarily damage his progress. Last season in Serie A, Paz racked up 12 goals and six assists in 35 games for Como. He created 13 big chances and averaged 1.5 key passes per game.