Real Madrid News
Two key factors that made Real Madrid walk away from Nico Paz – report
According to a report from SPORT, it has been learned that Real Madrid have decided not to bring back Nico Paz, once considered one of their brightest midfield prospects. This comes after the club confirmed the signing of Argentine talent Franco Mastantuono.
While Mastantuono’s arrival plays a big role in this decision, it is not the only reason Nico Paz’s return won’t be happening, at least not for now.
Nico, who left Real Madrid last summer to join Italian side Como for €6 million, had a buy-back clause in his deal. The clause allowed Madrid to re-sign him for €8 million while retaining 50% of his rights.
At Como, he has been one of the standout players in Serie A, scoring six goals and providing nine assists. His performance has turned heads and sparked interest across Europe.
Still, that has not been enough for Real Madrid to trigger the buy-back clause. The club has instead decided to go all-in on Mastantuono, a fellow Argentine who plays in the same position as Nico.
No guarantees for playing time at Madrid
Another major factor in the decision was Nico Paz’s demand for guaranteed playing time. He made it clear that he would only return to Real Madrid if he could play regularly.
But in a squad as competitive as Madrid’s, no such promise could be made.
While there were reports that the Como midfielder might be signed before the FIFA Club World Cup, no move materialised. In fact, even for Mastantuono, the team will have to wait until the end of the tournament.
As a result, his future remains open. Como, with Cesc Fabregas as coach, are keen to keep him, and several clubs are monitoring the situation closely.
For now, it looks like Nico will continue to shine away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
