Ancelloti forced me to sell him out of the club for just £9M, and now he’s worth 311% more”- Madrid owner reveals dissatisfaction in selling exceptional star who made only 48 appearances under Ancellotti and has now become one of the best in the world at his new club

In a recent press conference, Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Pérez, expressed his dissatisfaction over the sale of a promising young talent, Nico Paz, who was transferred to Italian club Como for a reported €6 million. Pérez revealed that the decision to sell Paz was influenced by then-manager Carlo Ancelotti, and he lamented that the player’s market value has since increased by approximately 311%.

Nico Paz, who joined Real Madrid’s academy from Tenerife at the age of 12, made eight first-team appearances last season. Seeking regular senior football, he moved to newly promoted Serie A side Como towards the end of the summer transfer window. Real Madrid included a buy-back clause in the deal, a common practice for the club when parting with young prospects. Reports suggest that exercising this option at the end of the current season would cost Madrid €9 million, with the amount increasing annually to €10 million in 2026 and €11 million in 2027.

Ancelotti, now under pressure due to recent underwhelming performances by Real Madrid, had previously commented on Paz’s potential. “We follow him a lot,” Ancelotti told Italian media. “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.”

Despite these sentiments, the initial decision to sell Paz has come under scrutiny, especially given his impressive development at Como. The situation has added to the mounting criticism of Ancelotti, whose position at Real Madrid is reportedly under threat following a series of disappointing results, including a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clásico and a 3-1 loss to AC Milan in the Champions League.

The club’s hierarchy is now contemplating triggering the buy-back clause to re-sign Paz, acknowledging that his growth trajectory aligns with Real Madrid’s long-term objectives. This scenario underscores the challenges and complexities involved in managing young talent within elite football clubs, where immediate performance pressures can sometimes overshadow long-term developmental strategies