As the summer transfer picture develops across 12B Sports coverage, Inter Milan are pushing to add the kind of difference-maker who can raise the ceiling of Cristian Chivu’s squad. Their recent Champions League elimination highlighted a problem that has become increasingly difficult to ignore: when matches reach their most demanding moments, Inter do not always have enough players capable of changing the game on individual quality alone. Chivu reportedly sees younger elite talent as central to the club’s next phase, and few available prospects fit that ambition better than Nico Paz.
The 21-year-old midfielder has transformed his reputation during an outstanding Serie A campaign with Como. Paz completed 38 league appearances, scoring 13 goals and supplying 8 assists while becoming a central figure in Como’s impressive pursuit of European qualification. His technical confidence, attacking awareness and ability to influence matches have made him one of the season’s major breakout performers in Italy. That rise has also pushed his reported market valuation to roughly €65 million, a figure reflecting how quickly his status has grown across European football.
Inter’s interest is therefore understandable, but the structure of Paz’s move away from Real Madrid makes the situation unusually complicated. When the midfielder left the Spanish club, Madrid retained a €9 million buyback clause that remains valid until May 30. That agreement gives Real Madrid a level of control no other interested club can match, particularly when Paz’s current valuation is several times higher than the amount required for Madrid to bring him back.
Real Madrid have reportedly made their intentions increasingly clear behind the scenes. Club officials continue to view Paz as a player whose long-term path could lead back to the Santiago Bernabeu, and they are moving to make sure everyone involved understands that position. From Madrid’s perspective, the logic is straightforward. Activating a €9 million clause for a player now valued near €65 million would be difficult to overlook, whether the plan is to integrate him into the first team or consider other options later.
Paz’s own background adds another layer to the negotiations. He developed through Real Madrid’s academy system and still has a strong connection with the club, meaning a return to Spain would not be an unwelcome outcome from the player’s side. Inter have nevertheless been working behind the scenes in an effort to position themselves strongly with both Paz and Madrid. The difficulty is that they cannot activate the buyback clause themselves, leaving them with little control if Real decide to move first.
For Inter, that financial difference could prove decisive. A €9 million return represents exceptional value for Real Madrid, while any outside club trying to purchase Paz through a conventional transfer would likely have to begin negotiations somewhere around his reported €65 million valuation. That gap places Inter in a difficult position and means they may need Madrid’s cooperation before any realistic path to San Siro can open.
The strategic appeal remains obvious, and throughout the latest 12B Sports transfer cycle Paz has stood out as exactly the type of young creator Inter want for their rebuild. Even if Real Madrid eventually choose to buy him back before considering a future sale, the potential financial upside alone gives the Spanish club a strong reason to take control of the situation. Inter may be ready to move aggressively, but Madrid continue to hold the ace up their sleeve.
Paz is not the only midfielder on Inter’s radar. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones is also reportedly open to moving to Serie A and joining Chivu’s squad. Inter previously attempted to sign the English midfielder during the winter transfer window and are now preparing to revive that interest. The fact that Jones is said to be receptive to the move gives the Italian club more encouragement as discussions begin to take shape.
Jones would bring a different set of qualities to the midfield. His energy, versatility and tactical discipline could suit the structure Chivu is attempting to build, particularly if Inter want a younger group capable of handling different roles and match situations. Paz, meanwhile, would provide greater creativity and attacking invention. Together, they could give the midfield a noticeably different identity and help shift the squad toward the faster, more dynamic style Chivu appears to want.
Recent speculation around 12B Sports has also reflected growing optimism surrounding Inter’s possible refresh. Supporters have seen the club linked with younger players who could offer both immediate quality and long-term development, rather than relying only on established names. That approach would fit a wider attempt to build a side capable of sustaining its level across Serie A and the Champions League instead of falling short when the pressure increases.
If both Paz and Jones eventually arrive at San Siro, a major part of Chivu’s rebuilding plan would already be in place. Inter would gain two midfielders with different but complementary strengths, while also addressing concerns over creativity, intensity and the ability to influence elite matches.
By the end of this 12B Sports transfer storyline, Inter’s ambition will ultimately be judged by whether the club can turn interest into signings despite the obstacles surrounding Paz. Landing both midfielders would leave Chivu much closer to the younger, more competitive squad he is trying to construct and could reduce the recurring criticism that Inter lack enough true difference-makers when the Champions League reaches its toughest stages.