Real Madrid made their intentions to bring Paz back to the Bernabeu known last summer, but the midfielder had other plans, reasoning that Real Madrid's current squad — which includes players such as Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham — would not offer him the minutes he needs to keep developing.
After weighing it up, Paz opted to stay at Como, with the Italian club agreeing to pay €60m to take full ownership of the player. Real Madrid, though, kept an €80m buyback option for next year, unwilling to give up control over him entirely.
Paz explained his reasoning after making his Champions League debut with Como in Wednesday's 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, in which he provided two assists.
"I thought this was where I'd grow the most. I think I made the right decision and I'm glad I did," the midfielder said.
He also reflected on the significance of the result itself.
"It's been a historic night. We played an incredible match. We really wanted to play this game, and I think we approached it in the best possible way. We're very happy with the performance we put in," Paz said.
The Argentine, who came through Real Madrid's academy before joining Como in 2024, has established himself as a key figure under Cesc Fabregas, helping guide Como to Champions League qualification for the first time in the club's history.
Paz first announced himself at the highest level with Real Madrid, scoring the winning goal against Napoli in the Champions League group stage back in November 2023, but was never able to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti's first-team plans on a regular basis.
Since his move to Italy, Paz has become one of Serie A's most exciting young talents, contributing goals and assists regularly and earning senior international recognition with Argentina. Real Madrid's buyback clause cannot be activated until the summer of 2027, giving Paz at least one more full season to continue building his case in Serie A — with the Bernabeu still watching closely from a distance.