Fabregas: ‘Nico Paz won’t play for Inter, he’ll either stay at Como or return to Real Madrid’

Cesc Fabregas has issued a firm and pointed response to Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti’s public admiration for Nico Paz, insisting the Argentine will not be joining the Nerazzurri and that only Real Madrid have any say over his future beyond Como.

Zanetti had recently stated openly that he was a great admirer of his compatriot, who has been one of the standout players in Serie A this season. Fabregas, speaking at his pre-match press conference, via TMW, was unimpressed, and made his feelings known with unusual directness.

“Zanetti has been a very important person in football, he knows the dynamics well. I know Ausilio and Baccin well and I know they are the ones who make decisions. In the end, Nico is a Como player at 50%, but he is ours.

“The only club that can say anything is Real Madrid. I know that Zanetti does not work for Madrid or Como, so respect must be shown. There are also small messages I do not like. If I can say, and I know this for certain, Nico Paz will not play for Inter. He will either return to Real Madrid or play for Como next season.”

The Como coach also addressed Paz’s fitness ahead of the final day of the season and, potentially, the World Cup with Argentina.

“We are trying to see if he can play on Sunday, he deserves to, he has helped us enormously,” Fabregas said. “Between 24 and 48 hours a player can recover enormously, there are many miracles between physios and others that did not exist before. We will see on matchday, I cannot say yes or no right now.”

Nico Paz joined Como on a permanent basis from Real Madrid in 2024, with Los Blancos retaining a buy-back clause for the next two summers.

His 19 goal involvements this season have made him one of the most coveted players in Italian football, and Fabregas’s intervention makes clear that Como will not be steamrolled into losing their prized asset without a fight.