Who is Nico Paz? From Real Madrid's youth academy to the Argentina senior side
The 17-year-old, son of Pablo Paz, plays as a winger although he can also play through the middle. Scaloni has called him up for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers.
Remember the name: Nico Paz. Lionel Scaloni certainly did a while ago and has high hopes for the young player. This morning, the Argentina coach announced his preliminary list of 44 for the last two official games before 2022 World Cup Qatar (Argentina, who are mathematically qualified, play Venezuela, who are already eliminated, and Ecuador, who are still in with a chance). Maybe that is why Scaloni has opened the door to fresh talent - in his list, alongside the established stars like Messi, Dybala and Di María... are rough diamonds like Nico Paz. If he make the definitive 23-man squad list and plays under Scaloni he will be ineligible to play for Spain.
Nico joined Real Madrid's youth academy in 2017 from Tenerife, his boyhood club. While he has Argentinean blood, he was born in Spain and has duel nationality. He started out trying to emulate his father, playing as a centre-back, but he soon discovered that his qualities were more suited to playing further up the pitch. He switched position to centre-forward, until his coaches discovered that where he really shines is out wide on the wing, where he is able to beat rivals and deliver crosses. It was out on the wing where he really excelled.
He is usually seen hugging the touchline on both flanks but is versatile enough to play in other positions too. He is comfortable using both feet. Under the tutelage of Fran Beltrán, Nico occupies the wing in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. This season he has been combining playing in three different categories - for the Under-18s, Under-19s and Castilla. He has been developing slowly and in his own time - even if Scaloni has decided it's time for him to take the next step.
Castilla debut
Nico was already showing he was something a bit special when he in the lower categories at La Fábrica. He made his debut with Raúl's Castilla side in a pre-season friendly against Cultural Leonesa last summer, then made his first appearance in an official game on 8 January in the 3-1 win over Andorra. Nico was brought on in the 82nd minute to replace Morante. His family, who are mostly based in Tenerife, flew over especially to watch the game from the stands at the Di Stéfano. Since then, Nico has made two further appearances - against Alcoyano and Nàstic, both coming on as a sub. He has yet to start a game with the reserves.
Apart from possessing tremendous quality and close control, Nico is a very creative player which means he is able to get to the opponents' area with relative ease. He also has a keen eye for goal - on 10 January, just a couple of days after making his debut with Castilla, he scored his first goal for the Under-19s in the 2-0 win over Getafe - just two and a half minutes after kick-off. One of the 2004 generation, physically he is now filling out and becoming stronger. He is 1.76 metres tall and will turn 18 in September.
Madrid are well aware of his potential - they offered him a professional contract recently and have high expectations of him in the medium term. This season he has scored seven goals in nine games for the Under-18s - most of them from shots from outside of the box, similar in style to Marco Asensio. He has made a total of six appearances with the Under-19s so far this season.
Pablo Paz, his father
Nico's father Pablo was a central defender who played 82 games in the Spanish top flight. Pablo Paz Tenerife in 1997 from Banfield. He would later spend time at Valladolid, Lugo and Motril before deciding to hang up his boots after a spell with Cerro de Reyes in 2009. He was capped 25 times by Argentina. Daniel Passarella handed him his first opportunity at full international level and he was part of the Argentina side that picked up the silver medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996. They lost the final against Nigeria, who pulled off a surprise win against the favourites, Brazil. That Argentina side featured players like Simeone, Zanetti, Crespo and Marcelo Gallardo. Pablo Paz made his senior debut aged 23. His son, Nico could follow in his footsteps and gain his first cap at 17. But for now, he is in the preliminary list.