🔗 Share this article The Reason Real Madrid Have 'Complete Confidence' in Teenager Pitarch The teenager has featured in seven matches for the Spanish giants, including five appearances in the starting lineup. Whenever a 18-year-old creates Real Madrid history in a pivotal European tie against Manchester City, it naturally attracts acclaim and attention. During his first start in the competition - and fifth game for the team - the young midfielder suitably impressed as the fifteen-time European champions secured a three-nil round of 16 first leg advantage at the Bernabeu. The teenager, who also made his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a substitute appearance at Benfica, then helped the Madrid side defeat the English Premier League side in Tuesday's return to secure a quarter-final berth. At 18 years old, Pitarch became the club's most youthful starter to begin two matches in the Champions League's latter rounds, beating Brazil forward Vinicius Jr's record by a week and a half. Rapid Ascent Through La Fabrica This talent is the most recent to come through from the club's academy and is rapidly cementing himself as one of Alvaro Arbeloa's most exciting young players. He signed for Madrid from CD Leganes in the summer of 2023, having previously been with Atletico Madrid and Getafe youth teams, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a positive impact. He progressed to the reserve side and it was during a pre-season game in which they played against the academy's first team, then coached by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have caught the attention of the current Real boss, who took over from the previous coach in January. Reports would later label the moment as "an instant connection," noting he excelled not only for his skill on the ball, but for the energy, character and drive he brought to the side. 'His Best Attribute Remains His Personality' During the pre-season of 2025, former boss Xabi Alonso called up Pitarch to practice with the first team and gave him playing time in the warm-up matches. However, it was Arbeloa's appointment that proved the defining moment in his development as he came on as a late substitute in each leg against Benfica that set up the meeting with Pep Guardiola's team. "I have dreamed of this every night when sleeping, the very first time I started playing football, each day you go to train and every day you have a game," said Pitarch following his first appearance. "I've just fulfilled my dream with the best team in the planet and in the best competition." Handed a starting debut in the Spanish league against Getafe - where he was for four years after moving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his spot for the following four as fitness issues to Jude Bellingham and Ceballos created an opportunity. The teenager has seized it with performances that have belied his youth and experience. "He is a extremely fast footballer, and you can observe his capabilities," remarked Arbeloa. "He is incredibly energetic, with great stamina, work-rate and mobility." Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager. "His greatest quality is his character," added he. "He constantly demands the ball, and even under pressure, he doesn't feel it. "I understand people are astonished to see him start in a European fixture, but he's playing because I had total confidence in him to do his normal game. "Thiago will keep receiving chances with the first team. It's a pleasure to have a talent like him." A Future International Decision Pitarch was born in a Madrid suburb, in the Madrid region, and was raised deeply involved in Spanish football, moving through local academies before joining Real Madrid's renowned La Fabrica system. He holds dual Moroccan and Spanish nationality, offering him the choice to play for either country at senior international level. According to international regulations, footballers may appear for different countries at junior level without being locked in, with the ultimate choice only final once they appear in a official senior international match. He has featured for Spain at youth level, turning out for both the under-19 and under-20 teams, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where Spain reached the quarter-finals. Despite this, he has not yet decided to any full national side, who are watching his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, the player said: "I have not taken my final decision yet. Things are positive with the Spanish federation, but I will reach a decision in the near future." This scenario mirrors that of other bi-national talents such as club colleague Diaz and Barca star Lamine Yamal. While teenage Yamal opted for Spain, Diaz opted to represent the Atlas Lions. Eyes on the Prize For now, his attention is on establishing himself in the Madrid lineup and rewarding his manager's belief. He featured for 74 minutes in the two-one win at the Etihad, which sealed a 5-1 overall triumph and a last-eight matchup with Bayern Munich. His substitution by fellow youth graduate in Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in younger players to help the club chase trophies to come. Following his impressive impact so far on the Champions League, Pitarch is tipped to play a key role in that. "The manager handles me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to earn my playing time on the field," he commented following the success at Manchester.
The teenager has featured in seven matches for the Spanish giants, including five appearances in the starting lineup. Whenever a 18-year-old creates Real Madrid history in a pivotal European tie against Manchester City, it naturally attracts acclaim and attention. During his first start in the competition - and fifth game for the team - the young midfielder suitably impressed as the fifteen-time European champions secured a three-nil round of 16 first leg advantage at the Bernabeu. The teenager, who also made his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a substitute appearance at Benfica, then helped the Madrid side defeat the English Premier League side in Tuesday's return to secure a quarter-final berth. At 18 years old, Pitarch became the club's most youthful starter to begin two matches in the Champions League's latter rounds, beating Brazil forward Vinicius Jr's record by a week and a half. Rapid Ascent Through La Fabrica This talent is the most recent to come through from the club's academy and is rapidly cementing himself as one of Alvaro Arbeloa's most exciting young players. He signed for Madrid from CD Leganes in the summer of 2023, having previously been with Atletico Madrid and Getafe youth teams, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a positive impact. He progressed to the reserve side and it was during a pre-season game in which they played against the academy's first team, then coached by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have caught the attention of the current Real boss, who took over from the previous coach in January. Reports would later label the moment as "an instant connection," noting he excelled not only for his skill on the ball, but for the energy, character and drive he brought to the side. 'His Best Attribute Remains His Personality' During the pre-season of 2025, former boss Xabi Alonso called up Pitarch to practice with the first team and gave him playing time in the warm-up matches. However, it was Arbeloa's appointment that proved the defining moment in his development as he came on as a late substitute in each leg against Benfica that set up the meeting with Pep Guardiola's team. "I have dreamed of this every night when sleeping, the very first time I started playing football, each day you go to train and every day you have a game," said Pitarch following his first appearance. "I've just fulfilled my dream with the best team in the planet and in the best competition." Handed a starting debut in the Spanish league against Getafe - where he was for four years after moving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his spot for the following four as fitness issues to Jude Bellingham and Ceballos created an opportunity. The teenager has seized it with performances that have belied his youth and experience. "He is a extremely fast footballer, and you can observe his capabilities," remarked Arbeloa. "He is incredibly energetic, with great stamina, work-rate and mobility." Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager. "His greatest quality is his character," added he. "He constantly demands the ball, and even under pressure, he doesn't feel it. "I understand people are astonished to see him start in a European fixture, but he's playing because I had total confidence in him to do his normal game. "Thiago will keep receiving chances with the first team. It's a pleasure to have a talent like him." A Future International Decision Pitarch was born in a Madrid suburb, in the Madrid region, and was raised deeply involved in Spanish football, moving through local academies before joining Real Madrid's renowned La Fabrica system. He holds dual Moroccan and Spanish nationality, offering him the choice to play for either country at senior international level. According to international regulations, footballers may appear for different countries at junior level without being locked in, with the ultimate choice only final once they appear in a official senior international match. He has featured for Spain at youth level, turning out for both the under-19 and under-20 teams, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where Spain reached the quarter-finals. Despite this, he has not yet decided to any full national side, who are watching his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, the player said: "I have not taken my final decision yet. Things are positive with the Spanish federation, but I will reach a decision in the near future." This scenario mirrors that of other bi-national talents such as club colleague Diaz and Barca star Lamine Yamal. While teenage Yamal opted for Spain, Diaz opted to represent the Atlas Lions. Eyes on the Prize For now, his attention is on establishing himself in the Madrid lineup and rewarding his manager's belief. He featured for 74 minutes in the two-one win at the Etihad, which sealed a 5-1 overall triumph and a last-eight matchup with Bayern Munich. His substitution by fellow youth graduate in Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in younger players to help the club chase trophies to come. Following his impressive impact so far on the Champions League, Pitarch is tipped to play a key role in that. "The manager handles me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to earn my playing time on the field," he commented following the success at Manchester.