Lionel Messi’s young Argentina teammate leaves door open to Real Madrid comeback

Lionel Messi continues to inspire a new generation of stars, with Argentina’s young talents breaking through in Europe at increasingly early stages of their careers. Among them, one of Messi’s current national team teammates has hinted at the possibility of a return to Real Madrid.

Since lifting the 2022 World Cup, head coach Lionel Scaloni has begun reshaping Argentina’s squad with a mix of emerging players, some born in the country and others abroad. One of the most promising is Nico Paz, who has chosen to represent the Albiceleste while developing his game at Cesc Fabregas’ Como in Italy.

Speaking with Diario AS, Paz left the door open to rejoining Los Blancos in the future. “You never know. I’m focused on Como, which is where I belong. I’m very happy and excited. I have no idea what the future holds, I don’t even know what I’ll be doing tomorrow,” the 20-year-old said.

Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and a product of Real Madrid’s academy, Paz has taken the opportunity to grow abroad. His performances in Serie A earned him a call-up from Scaloni to share the pitch with Messi. With Real Madrid still holding a buy-back option, the midfielder could one day return to the Bernabéu as another Argentine presence in the squad.

Nico Paz named in Scaloni’s preliminary squad

On Monday, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) released the preliminary list for upcoming CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Chile. Alongside Messi, Paz was also included and is set for a potential return to the national team setup.

Although he has spent most of his life in Spain, Paz says choosing Argentina was the right decision. “I made the right choice and I’m happy with it. The national team motivates me, looks after me, gives me advice, and supports me in everything. Honestly, I’m very proud to be part of the Argentina national team. It’s a great honor,” he told Diario AS.

Paz has already earned three caps, most recently against Chile on June 6. While opportunities have been limited given the depth of the squad, the young midfielder remains eager to push for more minutes. He counts his national team debut as one of the greatest moments of his career, alongside his first Champions League goal.

“I’d say it was my goal in the Champions League with Real Madrid against Napoli… It was an incredible moment, something I had dreamed of since arriving at the club. And then my debut with the Argentina national team. Not just because it was my debut, but also because of Messi — his hat-trick, the assist I gave him… He’s such a kind person. I couldn’t sleep that night,” Paz admitted