Lionel Messi stunned by behaviour of Tottenham's £60m 'James Maddison replacement'

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a move for Nico Paz, a young talent who once impressed Lionel Messi with his remarkable mentality. Spurs' interest in Paz has been piqued following Thomas Frank's need to delve into the transfer market due to James Maddison's Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in pre-season, which could see him sidelined for most of the 2025/2026 campaign.

While Frank is known to want a new number ten, Paz has caught the attention of many after being crowned Serie A's Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, contributing to 14 goals under Cesc Fabregas at Como. His performance on his senior debut for Argentina, where he assisted Messi in a resounding 6-0 victory over Bolivia, also drew praise from footballing icon Messi.

"Nico Paz has an incredible mindset, and that's why he's where he is," Messi said. "Nico has a lot of quality and understands the game perfectly. He has an incredible mindset, and he's with Cesc Fabregas as coach who is my friend and will help him grow a lot".

While The Athletic reports that Tottenham have not yet placed a bid for Paz, Italian media claim that Como has turned down a £35m offer from Frank's team. It is believed that the club would demand around £60m to release the 20-year-old.

Paz's Como journey began with a £5.2m transfer from Real Madrid in 20204, and he played a pivotal role in helping the Italian club secure a tenth-place finish in Serie A. However, luring Paz to north London could prove to be a complex negotiation for Spurs

Como are reportedly digging their heels in over a potential sale, and Paz's old club, Madrid, reportedly have a 50% sell-on clause. According to The Athletic, Madrid passed up the opportunity to trigger a £6.9m buy-back option for Paz this year, but they still hold a £8m clause for 2026 and a £9m clause for 2027, with the right to match any bid at any time.

Maddison, 28, sustained an injury during Sunday's pre-season game against Newcastle United in South Korea. He fell to the floor following an off-the-ball incident and was subsequently carried off the pitch by medical staff.

Frank expressed his concerns in a post-match interview, fearing that Maddison, who was on the comeback trail after a lengthy absence, had sustained a "bad injury".

Spurs later confirmed Frank's worst fears, announcing on Thursday morning that Maddison is set for surgery due to a torn ACL in his right knee - the same knee he injured last season.

Spurs were already in the market for a new number ten, having tried to lure Morgan Gibbs-White away from Nottingham Forest before the England international signed a new contract with his club. With Son Heung-min's exit and Dejan Kulusevski out injured, Paz could emerge as a key target in the upcoming weeks.