Raúl: I know Nico Paz, he has the ability to inherit Messi's Argentina No. 10 shirt

Nico Paz made a stunning impact in the Champions League match against Man United. During a post-match program on Movistar+, discussion turned to whether Nico Paz could inherit Messi's No. 10 jersey for the Argentina national team.

Some in Argentina already see him as a potential successor to Messi in the national team. Raúl, who coached Nico Paz at Real Madrid Castilla, also spoke highly of the player.

Raúl made no secret of his belief in Nico Paz's potential. Having coached him at Castilla during a period when Real Madrid faced midfield instability, many fans question why the club didn't give this academy prospect more first-team opportunities before letting him leave.

Raúl believes Nico Paz can inherit Messi's No. 10 jersey

Santiago Cañizares mentioned that some in Argentina already consider the Como player to be Messi's successor. Raúl, with direct experience of Nico Paz's abilities, also expressed his support for this possibility.

Raúl stated: "I think he has the ability to take on that responsibility. I would vote for him because I know him. I've known him for 14 years, since he was coached by me at Castilla. Everyone knew he was good, but no one thought he could be this good."

Raúl also recalled Nico Paz's performances during his time in Real Madrid's youth academy: "Every day I had the chance to work with him, I felt he was one of the best players, the kind of player destined to emerge and become a star in the future."

Real Madrid retains a buy-back option for Nico Paz

Nico Paz was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, and holds Argentine heritage. He played for Real Madrid's first team and scored in a 2023-24 Champions League match against Napoli, but never secured consistent playing time. He ultimately transferred to Como in search of regular minutes.

Under Cesc Fàbregas's management, Nico Paz has steadily improved and is now a key member of the Italian club. Real Madrid sold him to Como but retained an €80 million buy-back clause for next summer.

The question now is whether Real Madrid will decide to bring him back. Given Real Madrid's need for a midfielder who can control the game's tempo, create chances, and deliver accurate final passes, Nico Paz's performances suggest the club may have overlooked a solution already in their ranks. At the very least, Raúl has made clear he is unsurprised by Nico Paz's talent, though the heights he has reached remain remarkable.