Zanetti, speaking to DSPORTS Radio, addressed his long-standing appreciation for the player in terms that made no attempt to disguise his club's desire.
"I love him for his way of playing and for the person he is. He's on his way to becoming a great player. Great players are very coveted by great clubs."
The connection between Zanetti and Paz runs deeper than professional admiration. The Inter vice-president and former Argentina captain was the room-mate of Nico's father, Pablo Paz, at the 1998 World Cup, and the families have maintained a close relationship since.
All three were photographed dining together at Zanetti's Milan restaurant in March — a meeting that immediately generated speculation about a possible move to San Siro.
Paz has been one of the revelations of Serie A this season, contributing 12 goals and seven assists in 35 league appearances for Como despite battling a knee injury in the final weeks of the campaign. He also faces a fitness concern ahead of the World Cup, with head coach Cesc Fàbregas publicly uncertain about his availability for the final-day match against Cremonese.
Real Madrid hold a buyback option on Paz worth €9m, giving them priority over any other interested party. The player joined Como from Madrid in the summer of 2024 as part of a development loan and has far exceeded what any reasonable projection for a two-year spell in the Italian second and top divisions might have suggested. His market value has been assessed at €65m by several outlets.
Madrid's squad construction for next season, under incoming manager José Mourinho, is congested in the attacking midfield positions, which creates a genuine question about whether Paz would get sufficient game time at the Bernabéu. That uncertainty is precisely the opening that Inter, and other clubs, are hoping to exploit.