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Como are reportedly poised to finalise a €60 million agreement to sign Nico Paz permanently at Stadio Sinigaglia. However, with the club already close to breaching financial fair play (FFP) regulations, questions have been raised over how they can afford such a substantial outlay so early in the transfer window.

According to reports from multiple sources on Friday, Real Madrid intend to trigger their €9 million buy-back clause for Nico Paz, after which Como will pay €60 million to bring him back immediately. The deal is also expected to include an €80 million buy-back clause in favour of Real Madrid, which would be valid only during the summer of 2027.

Given that Como possess the wealthiest ownership group in Serie A, the issue is not whether the club can afford to sign Nico Paz, but rather how they are managing to stay within UEFA’s financial fair play framework.

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, the short answer is that they likely will not.

Como have earned qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history, which will boost their revenues compared to last season. However, this milestone also subjects them to heightened scrutiny from UEFA under its financial sustainability regulations.

UEFA is expected to assess Como’s financial records next spring, focusing on the previous three financial years — 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26. Like all clubs participating in European competitions, Como must ensure that their losses do not exceed €60 million over that three-year span, and that spending on first-team wages and transfers does not surpass 70% of total income.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Como are ‘inevitably expected to exceed these limits’. The publication states that the club recorded a €50 million loss in 2023-24, which ballooned to €132 million in 2024-25. Although financial results for the 2025-26 season, which concludes on June 30, are expected to show some improvement, the outlet predicts that overall losses will still hover around €100 million.

Head coach Cesc Fabregas has overseen a remarkable rise at the club, but the off-field figures remain a challenge. Reports indicate that Como may seek a settlement agreement with UEFA next year, as several Serie A sides have done recently. Such an agreement would likely impose spending restrictions on the club over the following three to four years.

UEFA generally takes a lenient approach towards clubs that make ‘rational investments’ and have owners with a consistent record of injecting capital into their teams. Como’s ownership group has reportedly invested €390 million since taking control in 2019.

Despite impending FFP issues, Como stand out for having no outstanding debts with lenders and maintaining net assets exceeding €54 million. Furthermore, if they are found in breach of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, they would be classified as first-time offenders — a factor that could lead UEFA to adopt a more sympathetic stance towards the club.