Nico Paz at Como: The Rise of Serie A Young Midfield Maestro
Introduction
When Nico Paz arrived at Como in the summer of 2024 from Real Madrid’s academy, many saw it as a gamble for all involved. A promising 20-year-old, Paz left La Fábrica to join a newly-promoted Serie A side whose primary objective was survival. But under the stewardship of Cesc Fàbregas, Como have given Paz the platform—and the responsibility—to become their creative engine. What has emerged is not just a talented youngster on the rise, but a tactical evolution of his game set within a defined system. In many respects, his story mirrors the kind of career-reshaping analysis written for players like Christian Pulisic at AC Milan: a shift in role, style, and output driven by environment and tactical design.
Background & Transfer Context
Paz’s journey began at Real Madrid’s famed youth system. He made a handful of first-team appearances in the 2023/24 season, including a memorable goal in the Champions League, but game time was limited.
In August 2024, Como secured his services on a permanent deal (reported fee ~€6 million) while Real Madrid retained a buy-back clause. The move offered a clear pathway for Paz: regular senior minutes, a central role in a team rebuilding in Italy’s top flight, and a chance to refine his game away from the intense scrutiny of Madrid’s first team.
Tactical Role & Evolution at Como
System & Positioning
Under Fàbregas, Como have frequently deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, in which Paz dons the No. 10 role behind the striker, though with significant positional freedom. He often operates in the left-half-space or just outside the penalty arc, rather than staying strictly as a wide attacker. This shift is evident in his average heat maps and pass-reception zones.
Compared to earlier phases of his career, where he oscillated between wide and central roles, this season he has anchored himself as the creative linchpin: carrying the ball, progressing play via dribbles, linking deep buildup to final third actions.
Key Tactical Responsibilities
- Ball progression & carries: Paz has shown the ability to receive under pressure, beat a press or first line of defence via dribble or carry, and release runners or pass into the box. His high number of attempted take-ons reflects this.
- Chance creation & passes into the penalty area: He leads his team in shot-creating actions, passes into the box and goal-creating actions.
- Hybrid 8/10 role: Though he wears the number 10, Paz’s profile blends elements of a box-to-box midfielder (8) and an attacking playmaker (10). Fàbregas himself has described him in those hybrid terms.
- Off-the-ball contributions: While his attacking metrics draw the headlines, Paz also logs a notable number of tackles and defensive recoveries, showing an understanding of his side’s structure and pressing triggers.
Nico Paz’s Journey from Madrid to Como: A Midfield Maestro in the Making
Statistical Snapshot & Performance Metrics
- In the 2024/25 season, Paz registered approximately 6 goals and 8 assists for Como, playing every bit like the system’s fulcrum.
- His pass completion rate hovered around 83.6%, on a volume of more than 37 passes per 90 minutes, largely in high-pressure zones.
- Pace of progression: He averaged around 0.36 non-penalty xG per 90 (93rd percentile) and 0.26 xA per 90 (91st percentile) in Serie A level.
- Dribble/take-on stats: 135 attempted take-ons, 69 completed, making him the club’s leader in this category.
- In the early part of the 2025/26 campaign, reports indicate he already led Serie A in key creative metrics: assists, chance-creation, etc.
These numbers underline that Paz is not merely talented — he is highly influential within his team’s structure.
Tactical Strengths
- Spatial intelligence & half-space awareness: Paz is comfortable drifting into pockets between defense and midfield, inviting play, turning quickly, and triggering forward passes or carries.
- Comfort under pressure: His ability to receive in tight spaces, carry into space, and then locate passes or dribble past markers is mature beyond his age.
- Versatility of output: He contributes with goals, assists, progressive passes into the box, dribbles, and off-ball work. That adaptability makes him difficult to categorize simply as “just a number 10”.
- Physical & technical blend: At 1.86m, Paz pairs height and stride with a refined left foot. Despite his size, he displays agility and nimble movement in the final third.
The Onerous Rise of Como 1907 – A Fitting Project for a Deserving Establishment
Areas for Development
- End product / finishing consistency: Though he attempts many shots and dribbles, some reports signal that his conversion rate could improve.
- Discipline in defensive moments: He picked up several yellow cards and committed fouls at a higher rate than one might expect given his creative role.
- Right-foot effectiveness: While his left foot is polished, his weaker right foot remains an area for refinement.
- Sustaining peak form: As with all young talents, consistency across an entire season and coping with physical demands will be key.
Impact on Como & Systemic Fit
Paz’s presence has significantly raised Como’s offensive ambitions. While newly promoted and expected to fight relegation, Como’s possession stats and attacking threat have improved markedly — and Paz lies at the heart of that shift.
He has given Fàbregas a tactical focal point, enabling the manager to build transition-play, overloads, and inter-line creativity around him. His hybrid role allows Como to stretch defenses, break press lines and manufacture chances from deeper or central zones rather than relying purely on wide attackers. Simply put, Paz doesn’t just fit the system; he defines it.
Development Path & Future Outlook
For a player of his age, the trajectory is compelling. He arrived with potential, but at Como, he has matured into a performer. The fact that Real Madrid retained a buy-back clause speaks to his long-term value and potential pathway.
If Paz continues to refine his end product, maintain high-level output, and avoid injury/consistency setbacks, there are several potential outcomes:
- Establishing himself as one of Serie A’s premier young playmakers and becoming a transfer target for elite clubs.
- Returning to Real Madrid (or a club of equivalent stature) as a more polished option for midfield/attacking midfield.
- Cementing his role at Como as they aim higher—perhaps even European qualification, leveraging his growth to elevate the club’s ambitions.
Overall Evaluation
Nico Paz’s time at Como is emblematic of how the right environment and tactical clarity can accelerate a young player’s development. He has transformed from a promising prospect into a central figure of a top-flight team: a creative engine, a ball-carrier, a chance-maker. His hybrid 8/10 profile, combined with his freedom in the system and statistical dominance at such a young age, sets him apart.
While areas remain for improvement, particularly in end product and sustained consistency, his progress so far is more than encouraging. In a league and era where midfield creativity is increasingly prized, Paz is positioning himself as one of the most exciting talents in Europe. If he keeps on this path, the next five years could see him reach the very top: not just as a star for Como, but as a contender among the elite of his generation.
By: Xhulio Zeneli
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / NurPhoto