Nico Paz used his Champions League debut to answer the question Real Madrid had asked him in June.

The 22-year-old set up two goals as Como beat RB Leipzig 4-1 at the Stadio Sinigaglia on 10 September, and told reporters afterwards it was exactly the sort of night he had stayed for.

“It was for nights like this that I wanted to stay, I knew this is where I would grow the most, and I am really pleased with my decision. I made the right choice.”

At 22 years and two days old, Paz became the youngest Argentine to assist multiple goals in a single Champions League match since Lionel Messi did it for Barcelona against Basel in October 2008, aged 21 years and 120 days, per Opta.

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Madrid keep a one-way buy-back

The decision Paz was referring to had been finalised in late June. Real Madrid, Como 1907 and the player jointly agreed that he would stay in Serie A for 2026-27 rather than return to the Bernabéu, with Madrid keeping a unilateral buy-back option over the following summer.

The clause is reported at around €80m and is exercisable only by Real Madrid, meaning no rival club can prise him out of Como at that price.

In the official statement Paz said he had reached the choice “after many weeks of reflection” and considered another year at Como “the best option for my career at this moment.”

Why Como won out over the Bernabéu

Paz left Real Madrid for Como in August 2024. He scored 12 goals and set up seven in Serie A last season under Cesc Fàbregas, before Como qualified for Europe and he committed to a further year.

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A return to the Spanish capital would have meant competing for minutes with Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler in José Mourinho’s attacking midfield.

Como play away at Feyenoord in their next Champions League fixture on 14 October before hosting Manchester United at the Stadio Sinigaglia a week later.

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