Arteta and Berta interest justified as perfect Martin Odegaard successor hailed as ‘a champion’ by Cesc Fabregas
Nico Paz’s latest performance for Como shows why he would be a perfect signing for Arsenal as Martin Odegaard’s long-term successor, as Cesc Fabregas raves about him, but the Gunners will be disappointed in their pursuit of the youngster.
Arsenal have one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, Martin Odegaard, and the north London club also signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in the summer transfer window. Odegaard at 26 and Eze at 27 are at the top of their form, although it should be noted that the former has had injury problems this season.
The emergence of Ethan Nwaneri at Arsenal in recent times is also something to note when it comes to the attacking midfield position, but the Gunners still like Nico Paz.
October 1, transfer postponement Graeme Bailey claimed on Arsenal Insider that Arsenal “love” Paz.
Arsenal have scouted Paz, who turned down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2025, according to the transfer guru. Fabrizio Romano.
Like Odegaard, Paz is left-handed and silky on the ball, with his vision unmatched by anyone in his age group, just as was the case with the Arsenal and Norway international playmaker when he was young.
Paz joined Como from Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 and scored six goals and provided eight assists in 30 Serie A starts last season.
The 21-year-old, who has won six caps for Argentina, has also been on fire for Como this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in seven Serie A starts.
Paz’s latest impressive performance for Como came in a 2-0 win over Juventus at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Sunday.
The playmaker scored a goal and provided an assist, with Como manager and former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas heaping praise on him.
Fabregas said DAZN after the match: “Nico is a champion. I am very calm about him and his future.
“He can go wherever he wants if he continues with this hunger and this humility. The talent and the physique are there.”
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While Arsenal’s scouts are to be commended for choosing Paz as a target, unfortunately for the Premier League club all signs point to him moving to Real Madrid next summer.
Paz himself has publicly stated that he dreams of playing for Real Madrid in the long term.
Earlier this month, AS reported that Real Madrid had made a “verbal promise” to Paz to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabeu by triggering the €9 million (£8 million, $10.5 million) buyout clause in his Como contract.
This position was supported by a respected journalist Alfredo Pedulla on October 17, with the Italian report noting that Madrid and Paz had turned down the chance to join Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2025, with the playmaker “destined to shine soon in the stadium where he truly belongs.”
Como President Mirwan Suwarso said of Paz SportItalia October 11: “It’s a situation we agreed on from the start. Real Madrid can buy him back whenever they want.
“It’s up to Nico what he wants to do with his future. We are very happy to have him. We like to build him a house in Como.
“He chose to stay this season, and we’re taking it day by day. We’re seeing how it goes.
“Is he returning to Madrid next season? Madrid has every right to do so.
“Will he stay with us? It’s up to him whether he wants to or not.”
Nico Paz does special things… again #ComoJuve pic.twitter.com/QbJvQ03hm6
– Serie A League (@SerieA_EN) October 20, 2025
Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi said last week: “It is normal that until something is finalized I cannot comment.
“Nico is a player they have developed, an extraordinary talent, who plays in one of the best European leagues.
“Real Madrid can exercise their buyout right. They play in a league where there are a lot of Real Madrid players.
“Everyone talks about him, and perhaps it’s also Nico’s legitimate desire, to have a child who grew up in this environment.”
Ludi added: “I can’t speak for him, but I imagine he is, that he’s having a good time here.
“Real Madrid certainly repays us for the fact that we worked well with Nico Paz, but also with Jacobo Ramon.
“How is this going to be finalized? I don’t know, there is a written contract and rights.
“Unless an incredible team comes in and makes a higher offer, his fate depends on him, he must capitalize on his development at Como.”
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