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Acheampong should come in for Fofana, who I think might be rested. Santos in for James. Gusto at RB. Joao Pedro off the bench. Garnacho starting. Doubt Acheampong will get a start though, with Tosin there in the squad.

How can Real Madrid bring Nico Paz back from Como? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6801094/2025/11/13/real-madrid-nico-paz-transfer-como/ Nov. 13, 2025 Nico Paz is impressing with Como in Serie A. Since joining the Italian club from Real Madrid in August 2024 his stock has risen sharply — and the 21-year-old attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. However, the Argentina international looks to have a Madrid return on his mind. The Spanish club considered activating a buyback clause for him this summer — and they retain further options on him for 2026 and 2027. What’s the latest? Allow The Athletic to explain. Is Paz expected to move to Real Madrid? Paz’s impressive first season in Italy over 2024-25 (he scored six goals and provided nine assists in 35 games) meant Madrid’s board seriously considered bringing him back this summer. He had spent the previous season mostly with Real Madrid’s reserve side in the third tier of Spanish football, also playing 128 minutes across eight appearances for the seniors, scoring an important goal in the Champions League. He quickly stepped up in Serie A and, in June, Madrid could have re-signed him for €8million (£7m, $9.3m). There was so much speculation about Paz’s return that the move was widely considered a given in Spanish media. However, this was not the case for two reasons: Paz only wanted to come back if it was to take up an important role, and the approval of the new coach Xabi Alonso was still needed. Paz, meanwhile, has always felt very comfortable at Como, where he has developed well and should continue to do so this season, with the aim of representing Argentina at the World Cup next summer. He has been in all of national team manager Lionel Scaloni’s squads since October 2024. Nevertheless, Paz’s goal is to return to Madrid. That is why he ignored interest shown by several other suitors in the summer, including Tottenham and Inter. Madrid, Como and Paz’s agents kept each other informed of every move and did not entertain these options. Instead, they discussed reviewing and updating Madrid’s buy-back terms. Madrid have also been looking at other midfielders. The Athletic previously reported that Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Kees Smit of Dutch club AZ have been discussed at the club. However, they have by no means forgotten about Paz and are continuing to monitor his progress very closely. There is a strong chance that they will bring him back next summer. Mario Cortegana What options do Real Madrid have? Madrid can buy Nico back next summer for around €9million. Why such a low figure when his market value is much higher? When Madrid sold Paz to Como for around €6million in August 2024, they inserted several clauses and buyback options into the deal — following a now well-established policy at the Spanish club. Few Madrid youth academy graduates tend to move directly up to the first team at the Bernabeu (centre-back Raul Asencio and striker Gonzalo Garca have done so in recent seasons because of injuries or lack of options in their position). As a result, many are sold on to other clubs, where they will play more, and their progress is monitored closely. Those who end up returning to Madrid do so via the so-called ‘Via Carvajal’ (the Carvajal route), referring to how Dani Carvajal was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for around €5million in 2012, before returning the following year, after a brilliant campaign in the Bundesliga, for €6.5m. Catch Up On The Story Real Madrid’s academy, the Dani Carvajal route and dilemma facing youth players Madrid's youngsters have had to look for opportunities elsewhere in recent years - but that might have to change soon Madrid ordinarily include buyback clauses in deals for their youth academy prospects, as well as sell-on clauses if they end up being transferred again. They also ask to be notified of bids from other clubs, and for the right of first refusal — giving them the chance to match offers from rivals. Madrid have that right of first refusal for Paz. They would also be entitled to 50 per cent of any sale and included several buyback clauses in his August 2024 transfer to Como. Last summer, they could have signed him for €8million. That figure increases by €1m for the summer of 2026, and by €1m again for the summer of 2027 — with some potential add-ons also included in each scenario. However, these clauses may yet be renegotiated, in recognition of Paz’s rising market value. Mario Cortegana What’s the Como view? Como have struck up a great relationship with Madrid. They have proved themselves a credible destination for the development of Madrid’s finest young talent, a finishing school by the lake. Manager Cesc Fabregas’ work in pushing Paz to fulfil his potential meant Madrid were more than happy to sell them another young prospect, 20-year-old centre-back Jacobo Ramon, for €2.5million in July. Como informed Madrid of a huge bid for Paz in the summer from the Premier League. It was agreed they would turn it down and re-negotiate the buy-back clause included in the terms of the initial deal, out of recognition of his growing value. Fabregas was permanently appointed Como coach in July 2024Nicolo Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images Paz, who has already been capped by Argentina six times, would one day like to play for Madrid. For now, Como aren’t looking too far ahead in the future. “It’s normal that I can’t comment until something is finalised,” Como sporting director Carl Alberto Ludi said at a press conference in October. “Nico grew up at Real. He’s an extraordinary talent developing in one of Europe’s biggest leagues. Real can exercise their right to buy him back. “He plays in a position where there are many Madrid players. Everyone is talking about (his future) and maybe it’s also Nico’s legitimate desire as a kid who came through at Real and grew up in that environment. I can’t speak for him but I can imagine that’s the case. He is very happy here too.” If Madrid can’t find space for him next season either, perhaps, in the event Como qualify for Europe, playing a third season at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia would also have some appeal. James Horncastle How good has Paz been in Serie A? Paz was named the best young player in Serie A in his first season. It was no one-off. The Tenerife-born Argentine has gone from strength to strength since. He contributed eight goal involvements in his first seven appearances of the current campaign and has won four player of the match awards. Only Napoli’s box-crashing midfielder Frank Anguissa has collected more. After a 2-1 win against Juventus on October 19, attended by the 38-year-old manager’s mentor Arsene Wenger, he told DAZN: “I want to thank him (Wenger) again for believing in me like I believe in Paz. I have great faith in him for the future because I feel like I know when a player has the mentality to be a top player, and if he carries on like this, the sky is the limit.” James Horncastle By Mario Cortegana and James Horncastle

sell — DF FRA Axel Disasi — FW ENG Raheem Sterling (nightmare because of his insane £325K PW wage and his age, KSA is probably the only option but the berk will not go there, he holds all the cards and thus is holding us hostage due to our own stupidity) 4 DF ENG Tosin Adarabioyo 5 DF FRA Benoît Badiashile 12 GK DEN Filip Jörgensen 32 FW ENG Tyrique George 44 GK USA Gabriel Slonina 33 FW BRA Deivid Washington — GK ENG Ted Curd — GK ENG Teddy Sharman-Lowe — MF ENG Leo Castledine — FW CIV David Datro Fofana — FW SEN Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea will not have Dario Essugo available to cover Moises Caicedo after midfielder suffers setback https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6856038/2025/12/02/dario-essugo-Chelsea-injury-return/ Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo has been ruled out of three more Premier League games at the very least after suffering a setback in training on Monday. Essugo, who completed a £18.5million ($24.4m) move from Sporting CP in June, has already been sidelined for over two months due to sustaining a thigh injury while away with Portugal Under-21s. The 20-year-old underwent surgery to help cure the problem but there was optimism he would soon be available for selection again after training with the senior side for the first time last week. However, head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed the player’s return is going to have to wait. “For sure, he is not available for the next three (league) games,” Maresca said at a press conference. “We need to check him. Is it serious? I don’t think so. Unfortunately, it was just yesterday (Monday) so I don’t know (how bad a setback it is).” What You Should Read Next Chelsea Transfer DealSheet: What to expect in 2026 Chelsea were the Premier League's busiest team in the summer window One of the reasons Chelsea signed Essugo was to help provide cover for Moises Caicedo. The latter is suspended for the league games at Leeds (Wednesday night), Bournemouth (on Saturday) and against Everton on December 15 at Stamford Bridge after being sent off for a bad challenge on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino on Sunday. Asked about coping without Caicedo, Maresca added: “It’s always harder without Moises, Cole Palmer (played just four times this season) and Levi Colwill (expected to miss most of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his knee). There are many players. But we will try and find different solutions.” By Simon Johnson Chelsea Correspondent

Enzo Fernandez says he received ‘unwavering support’ from Chelsea after racist France chant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6854688/2025/12/02/enzo-fernandez-Chelsea-france-argentina-chant/ Enzo Fernandez said he received “unwavering support” from the Chelsea squad during the fallout from the video of him and his Argentina team-mates singing a racist chant about the France national side in July 2024. Fernandez posted a video of the song on social media after Argentina’s 2024 Copa America final victory over Colombia, with the French Football Federation (FFF) describing the chant as “unacceptable, racist and discriminatory”. Fernandez’s Chelsea team-mate and France international Wesley Fofana accused members of the Argentina squad of “uninhibited racism”. Fernandez, 24, said he cancelled his holiday to apologise in person to the Chelsea squad at their pre-season tour in the United States and added that the incident strengthened his relationship with his club team-mates. He went on to captain Chelsea in their opening Premier League match of the 2024-25 campaign the following month in the absence of Reece James. The midfielder issued an apology on social media in July 2024 but, speaking publicly about the video for the first time, the Argentina international told GiveMeSport: “The club has always shown faith in me and I’m grateful for that because I was given the captain’s armband at a tough time, but that shows a lot about me and what I mean to the club and my team-mates who showed faith in me from the start. “Regardless of what happened, the support was unwavering and they (Chelsea) showed their faith in me, so I’m ever so grateful to them for that.” What You Should Read Next Chelsea and the Enzo Fernandez fallout: Anger, apologies and investigations The song Enzo Fernandez streamed on social media after Argentina's Copa America victory win has caused fallout at Chelsea Fernandez explained that during his apology to the Chelsea squad he emphasised he was not “the type to discriminate or judge others”. He insisted the harmony in the dressing room was not impacted by the incident and said he had a “very good” relationship with his French team-mates. Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout in the 2022 World Cup final, with some fans of the South American side singing a chant ahead of that match referencing how many France players were of African heritage and were first- or second-generation immigrants in the European nation. The words to the chant were: “They play for France, but their parents are from Angola. Their mother is from Cameroon, while their father is from Nigeria. But their passport says French.” The FFF said it would file a legal complaint in the aftermath of the incident, while UK anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out called for action from governing bodies and clubs. Asked what he learnt from that period in 2024, Fernandez said he “suffered” and described it as a “really hard time for me personally”. By Ali Rampling Deputy News Editor

Essugo has got Lavia disease

Enzo Maresca on Dário Essugo: “Essugo is not available for the next THREE games. We need to check him, as he had a setback yesterday. “Unfortunately, it was just yesterday, so I don’t know how serious it is.” (@LloydCanfield)

Good for us.

2 2 FT jammy spuds

1 1

Kind of crazy how poor City look at the back considering the players they have across the back and in net.

1 nil NUFC

what a game!

damn 4 5 FT

goal line clearance or it would be 5 5

weak foul call on Kevin

8 minutes added time

only once in EPL history has a team ever came from 4 goals down to draw or win 2011 Newcastle came from 4 down to draw with Arse

last time there were 10 goals was in 2013 Manure v West Brom 5 5 draw Fergie's last game

only 6 EPL matches ever had had more goals than this all time record is 11 Pompey v Reading

Citeh's defence is so dodgy without a fully fit Rodri

Peps face

4 5