At a glance
- Real Madrid have decided to bring Nico Paz home, but he might not be the only midfielder bought this summer.
- Vitinha is a top target, while Eduardo Camavinga could head in the opposite direction to Paris Saint-Germain.
- Rodri and Enzo Fernandez are other big names on the shortlist, however.
Real Madrid have already decided to bring Nico Paz back to the Bernabeu from Como according to AS, but other midfielders could join him at the Bernabeu as fresh signings this summer.
The Argentina international left Madrid for Como as part of a bargain €6 million deal in 2024, however his boyhood club retained 50% of a sell-on fee and therefore half-ownership.
This means that Real Madrid has first refusal on the 21-year-old, who’s scored 10 goals and has five assists in 2025/2026 as Cesc Fabregas’ team make an unexpected Champions League qualification push beating the likes of Juventus on the way.
Paz has already played in the competition under Carlo Ancelotti against Napoli. He even scored against the Italians on his debut, while bagging a winner’s medal at Wembley after a 15th European Cup lifted at Borussia Dortmund’s expense.
And it is again in a Los Blancos shirt that Paz is expected to feature on the continent next term, with his buyback clause believed to be €9 million.
Real Madrid could be in the market for another midfielder
Paz might not be the only centre of the park technician that is brought in during the summer transfer window, however.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha is a top target. Yet with a contract until June 30, 2029 after signing a renewal, it’s widely thought he’ll cost more than €100 million.
PSG’s interest in Eduardo Camavinga, according to AS, could bring that price tag down, but it’s not common to find such part exchange deals happening in this day and age.
After openly flirting with Real Madrid through comments made during the international break, Rodri has been linked to the Bernabeu but is not in the sporting department’s plans next term.
There are doubts about his performance, age and knee injuries, making Enzo Fernandez – who spoke of his desire to live in the Spanish capital this week – higher up the list.
Like Vitinha, though, Chelsea’s World Cup winner will cost more than €100 million and is tied down even longer on one of Todd Boehly’s baseball-esque contracts until 2032.
Kees Smit is a cheaper option for Real Madrid
Valued at €60 million, Kees Smit, known as the ‘Dutch Pedri’ would be cheaper but more of a long-term bet for the future as opposed to the aforementioned established stars.
Known as his passing and positional awareness, Smit can be more retreated while Paz excels as an attacking midfielder with his superior dribbling and shooting on display.
But this goes without mentioning the other stars they young duo would have in their way – such as Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham among others – in Alvaro Arbeloa’s talent-packed squad.
