🔗 Share this article Why Real Madrid Have 'Complete Faith' in Teenager Thiago Pitarch The teenager has featured in seven matches for the Spanish giants, including five starts. When an 18-year-old creates Real Madrid a historic moment in a key European match against City, it naturally attracts praise and the spotlight. During his first start in the competition - and fifth game for the team - Thiago Pitarch made a strong impression as the fifteen-time Champions League winners claimed a 3-0 last-16 first-leg lead at the Bernabeu. The teenager, who also had his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Sporting Lisbon, then helped Los Blancos defeat the English Premier League side in the midweek second leg to secure a quarter-final berth. Aged 18 years old, Pitarch was the team's most youthful starter to start twice in the Champions League knockout stages, surpassing Brazil forward Vini Jr's previous mark by a week and a half. A Meteoric Rise From La Fabrica This talent is the most recent to emerge from the famed youth system and is quickly establishing himself as one of the manager's most promising young players. He joined Real from CD Leganes in 2023, having previously been with Atletico and Getafe academies, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a positive impact. He worked his way up to the reserve side and it was during a pre-season game in which they played against the senior squad, then managed by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have drawn the eye of the current Real boss, who took over from the previous coach in January. Reports would later describe the moment as "an instant connection," noting he excelled not only for his technical ability, but for the vitality, character and determination he brought to the team. 'His Greatest Quality Is His Personality' In the pre-season of 2025, ex-manager Xabi Alonso invited Pitarch to train with the senior squad and awarded him minutes during pre-season. Yet, it was Arbeloa's appointment that became the defining moment in his development as he came on as a late substitute in each leg against the Portuguese side that set up the meeting with Pep Guardiola's team. "I have dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the first day I started playing football, each day you go to train and every day you have a game," said Pitarch after his debut. "I've just achieved my dream with the best team in the world and in the top tournament." Handed a first start in the Spanish league against Getafe - where he was for four years after moving from Atletico in 2018 - he has kept his place for the next four as fitness issues to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos provided an opportunity. The teenager has taken it with displays that have defied his youth and experience. "He's a very quick player, and you can see what he's capable of," remarked the coach. "He is extremely dynamic, with great endurance, work-rate and movement." Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager. "His standout trait is his personality," added he. "He always wants the ball, and when pressed, he remains unfazed. "I understand people are astonished to watch him make his debut in a Champions League match, but he's playing because I had total trust in him to perform what he usually does. "He will continue to get opportunities with the first team. It's a pleasure to coach a player like him." Spain or Morocco? Pitarch was born in Fuenlabrada, in the Spanish capital's community, and grew up fully immersed in the local game, progressing through local academies before entering Real Madrid's famous La Fabrica system. He holds dual Spanish and Moroccan citizenship, offering him the option to represent either country at the highest level. According to Fifa eligibility rules, players may appear for multiple nations at youth level without being locked in, with the ultimate choice only binding once they appear in a official full international. Pitarch has played for the Spanish national team at underage levels, turning out for both the under-19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where La Roja made it to the last eight. Despite this, he has yet to commit to any senior national team, who are monitoring his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, Pitarch confirmed: "I haven't made my ultimate choice so far. My situation is positive with Spain, but I will reach a conclusion in the near future." This scenario echoes that of other dual nationality talents such as Real team-mate Diaz and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal. Whereas teenage Lamine opted for La Roja, Brahim opted to play for the Atlas Lions. Focus on the Future For now, Pitarch's focus is on making his mark in the Madrid lineup and repaying his manager's belief. He played 74 minutes in the two-one win at the Etihad, which completed a 5-1 aggregate success and a last-eight matchup with Bayern Munich. His substitution by another academy player in Angel underscored the coach's confidence in younger players to help the club chase future success. After his notable contributions to date on European football's biggest stage, Pitarch is expected to play a key role in that. "Arbeloa handles me the identical way. We handle it very normally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to deserve my playing time on the field," he said after the win at Manchester.
The teenager has featured in seven matches for the Spanish giants, including five starts. When an 18-year-old creates Real Madrid a historic moment in a key European match against City, it naturally attracts praise and the spotlight. During his first start in the competition - and fifth game for the team - Thiago Pitarch made a strong impression as the fifteen-time Champions League winners claimed a 3-0 last-16 first-leg lead at the Bernabeu. The teenager, who also had his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Sporting Lisbon, then helped Los Blancos defeat the English Premier League side in the midweek second leg to secure a quarter-final berth. Aged 18 years old, Pitarch was the team's most youthful starter to start twice in the Champions League knockout stages, surpassing Brazil forward Vini Jr's previous mark by a week and a half. A Meteoric Rise From La Fabrica This talent is the most recent to emerge from the famed youth system and is quickly establishing himself as one of the manager's most promising young players. He joined Real from CD Leganes in 2023, having previously been with Atletico and Getafe academies, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a positive impact. He worked his way up to the reserve side and it was during a pre-season game in which they played against the senior squad, then managed by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have drawn the eye of the current Real boss, who took over from the previous coach in January. Reports would later describe the moment as "an instant connection," noting he excelled not only for his technical ability, but for the vitality, character and determination he brought to the team. 'His Greatest Quality Is His Personality' In the pre-season of 2025, ex-manager Xabi Alonso invited Pitarch to train with the senior squad and awarded him minutes during pre-season. Yet, it was Arbeloa's appointment that became the defining moment in his development as he came on as a late substitute in each leg against the Portuguese side that set up the meeting with Pep Guardiola's team. "I have dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the first day I started playing football, each day you go to train and every day you have a game," said Pitarch after his debut. "I've just achieved my dream with the best team in the world and in the top tournament." Handed a first start in the Spanish league against Getafe - where he was for four years after moving from Atletico in 2018 - he has kept his place for the next four as fitness issues to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos provided an opportunity. The teenager has taken it with displays that have defied his youth and experience. "He's a very quick player, and you can see what he's capable of," remarked the coach. "He is extremely dynamic, with great endurance, work-rate and movement." Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager. "His standout trait is his personality," added he. "He always wants the ball, and when pressed, he remains unfazed. "I understand people are astonished to watch him make his debut in a Champions League match, but he's playing because I had total trust in him to perform what he usually does. "He will continue to get opportunities with the first team. It's a pleasure to coach a player like him." Spain or Morocco? Pitarch was born in Fuenlabrada, in the Spanish capital's community, and grew up fully immersed in the local game, progressing through local academies before entering Real Madrid's famous La Fabrica system. He holds dual Spanish and Moroccan citizenship, offering him the option to represent either country at the highest level. According to Fifa eligibility rules, players may appear for multiple nations at youth level without being locked in, with the ultimate choice only binding once they appear in a official full international. Pitarch has played for the Spanish national team at underage levels, turning out for both the under-19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where La Roja made it to the last eight. Despite this, he has yet to commit to any senior national team, who are monitoring his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, Pitarch confirmed: "I haven't made my ultimate choice so far. My situation is positive with Spain, but I will reach a conclusion in the near future." This scenario echoes that of other dual nationality talents such as Real team-mate Diaz and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal. Whereas teenage Lamine opted for La Roja, Brahim opted to play for the Atlas Lions. Focus on the Future For now, Pitarch's focus is on making his mark in the Madrid lineup and repaying his manager's belief. He played 74 minutes in the two-one win at the Etihad, which completed a 5-1 aggregate success and a last-eight matchup with Bayern Munich. His substitution by another academy player in Angel underscored the coach's confidence in younger players to help the club chase future success. After his notable contributions to date on European football's biggest stage, Pitarch is expected to play a key role in that. "Arbeloa handles me the identical way. We handle it very normally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to deserve my playing time on the field," he said after the win at Manchester.