Carlo Ancelotti strongly hints at Real Madrid triggering youngster's buy-back clause | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on former talent Nico Paz, who left the club for Como last summer.

Paz was 12 when he left home on the island of Tenerife to join Madrid's academy ranks and made eight first-team appearances last season, while also splitting his time with the Castilla squad.

But the opportunity for him to play regular senior football in Italy came up towards the end of the summer transfer window, moving to newly promoted Como.

Madrid cashed in for a reported €6m but are believed to have retained a buy-back clause, which is a common tactic when allowing young players to leave.

Paz made his senior Real Madrid debut last season / Fran Santiago/GettyImages

"We follow him a lot," Ancelotti told Italian media this week, with the boss hinting that Madrid have every intention of triggering the buy-back clause at some stage.

"I think this year of training outside of Real Madrid is going to be very good for him. He is a player who we think will be the future of Real Madrid."

Reports suggest that taking the buy-back option at the end of this season will cost Madrid just €9m. That amount will then increase yearly, to €10m in 2026 and €11m in 2027.

Ahead of last season, Madrid made use of a €5m buy-back clause to re-sign left-back Fran Garcia, two years after selling him to Rayo Vallecano. He has made 51 appearances in the 18 months since.

In 2016, Madrid triggered Alvaro Morata's buy-back clause to re-sign the striker from Juventus, paying €30m two years after selling him for €20m. He stayed in the Spanish capital for only one season, before the club more than doubled their money in a €65m sale to Chelsea in 2017.