"Nico Paz deserves to be Argentina's new number ten"
Como director claims attacking midfielder would be a worthy successor
Following Lionel Messi's emotional retirement from the Argentina national team, the iconic number ten shirt has become vacant. Several names have already been touted by the local press, but nobody wants to risk guessing definitively who will succeed the talisman.
Julián Álvarez, the Atlético Madrid forward, Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, or River Plate's Thiago Almada are possibilities. But the successor who bears the closest resemblance to Messi is Nico Paz, the Como midfielder.
Paz even scored a goal from a Messi assist in the farewell match and has been gaining momentum as heir to the number ten. Como's sporting director, Carlalberto Ludi, has joined the campaign.
"Nico is an exceptional worker. A player must deserve the ten in terms of quality, not merely as a symbol. But he deserves Argentina's number ten shirt, it would only be fair. He is a serious lad. Extraordinary, a person of strong values. An impressive player. I predict an even brighter future for him in the Argentina shirt," he stated.
Great footballers have worn the ten. Diego Maradona immediately springs to mind, but also Mario Kempes (World Cup winner in 1978), Ariel Ortega, Juan Román Riquelme and, on occasion, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala.