According to SPORTbible, Real Madrid’s ambitious plan to re-sign academy product Nico Paz from Como and immediately flip him for a substantial profit is reportedly on a collision course with FIFA’s “bridge transfer” regulations.
The Spanish giants are said to be moving to activate a buy-back clause for the 21-year-old midfielder, only to then offer him back to Como for a significantly inflated fee or sell him on to another interested club. However, this strategy appears to be directly challenged by rules designed to prevent clubs from profiting from short-term player registrations.
Paz, a graduate of Real Madrid’s famed ‘La Fabrica’ academy, made eight first-team appearances for Los Blancos before his permanent move to Como in 2024. His time in Italy has been nothing short of a revelation, with Paz scoring 13 goals in 40 games last season and playing a pivotal role in Como securing Champions League qualification.
Real Madrid initially sold Paz for €6 million but wisely included a buy-back clause, reportedly in the region of €9 million, which they had until June 30 to activate. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid is scheduled to meet with Como today, June 25, 2026, to inform them of their intention to trigger this clause.
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Romano detailed the reported next step for Real Madrid: “Real Madrid set to meet Como today for Nico Páz: plan to inform about €9m buy back clause to be activated. Real will give Como the chance to buy Páz on permanent deal at €60m fee. If Como reject, more clubs could join the race.” This proposed transaction would see Real Madrid potentially net a profit of over €50 million in a matter of days.
FIFA’s ‘bridge transfer’ rules
The immediate resale aspect of Real Madrid’s reported strategy, however, runs afoul of FIFA’s regulations concerning “bridge transfers.” These rules are designed to prevent situations where “no club or player shall be involved in a bridge transfer,” defined by FIFA as when “two consecutive transfers, national or international, of the same player occur within a period of 16 weeks.”
AS journalist Jose Felix Díaz highlighted the implications of these rules for Real Madrid’s reported plan. “Real Madrid cannot buy back Nico Paz to then resell him in the summer market. Impossible. Twelve weeks must pass, that is, until the winter market,” Díaz stated on X. This means that if Real Madrid registers Paz, they would be forced to wait a minimum of 12 weeks before being able to sell him, effectively preventing another permanent move until the January transfer window. FIFA also stipulates that sanctions will be imposed on all parties if a bridge transfer is deemed to have taken place.
Paz’s rising profile
The interest in Paz is understandable given his impressive form and his burgeoning international career. Born in Tenerife but electing to play for Argentina, the 21-year-old has already earned 10 caps for La Albiceleste and is currently with the squad for the World Cup in North America. He made his tournament debut replacing Lionel Messi against Algeria, and with Argentina already through to the round of 32, Paz could be handed his first start in the final group game against Jordan in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday.
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Clubs reportedly monitoring Paz’s situation include Inter Milan, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig. Paz remains under contract with Como until 2028, adding another layer of complexity to any potential deal. As the meeting between Real Madrid and Como unfolds, the football world will be watching to see how the Spanish giants navigate these regulatory hurdles in their pursuit of a significant transfer market windfall.
