🔗 Share this article The Reason Real Madrid Have 'Complete Faith' in Youngster Thiago Pitarch The teenager has featured in seven games for the Spanish giants, featuring five appearances in the starting lineup. When an teenage creates club a historic moment in a pivotal Champions League match against Manchester City, it naturally attracts praise and attention. During his first start in the competition - and fifth appearance for the team - the young midfielder made a strong impression as the fifteen-time European champions secured a 3-0 round of 16 first leg advantage at the Bernabeu. The young player, who also had his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Sporting Lisbon, then assisted the Madrid side defeat the English Premier League side in Tuesday's return to secure a last eight place. At 18 years old, the midfielder became the team's youngest player to start twice in the Champions League's latter rounds, surpassing star Vinicius Jr's record by 10 days. 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 exciting protegees. He joined Madrid from Leganes in 2023, having previously been with Atletico Madrid and Getafe's academies, and initially featuring for the under-19 side, where he rapidly created a strong impression. He progressed to the B team and it was in a friendly match in which they faced the academy's first team, then managed by the former defender, where the youngster is said to have drawn the eye of the current Real boss, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January. Spanish media would later label the moment as "love at first sight," noting he excelled not only for his technical ability, but for the energy, personality and determination he brought to the side. 'His Best Attribute Is His Character' During the summer of 2025, ex-manager Alonso invited Pitarch to train with the first team and gave him playing time during the warm-up matches. Yet, it was Arbeloa's appointment that proved the defining moment in his development as he was introduced as a second-half replacement in both ties against Benfica that led to the clash with Manchester City. "I've dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the very first time I started playing football, every day you go to train and each day you play a match," said Pitarch after his debut. "I've just achieved my dream with the greatest club in the planet and in the top tournament." Handed a starting debut in the Spanish league against his former club - where he was for four years after arriving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his spot for the following four as injuries to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos created an opportunity. The teenager has seized it with displays that have belied his age and experience. "He is a very quick player, and you can observe what he's capable of," remarked the coach. "He is extremely dynamic, with great stamina, effort and movement." Pitarch's mentality has also stood out to his manager. "His greatest quality is his personality," added Arbeloa. "He always wants the possession, and when pressed, he doesn't feel it. "I understand fans might be surprised to see him start in a European fixture, but he is selected because I had total trust in him to perform what he usually does. "Thiago will keep receiving opportunities with the first team. It's a pleasure to have a player like him." A Future International Decision Pitarch was born in a Madrid suburb, in the Spanish capital's community, and was raised deeply involved in the local game, progressing through local academies before joining the club's famous youth academy. He holds both Moroccan and Spanish nationality, giving him the option to play for either country at senior international level. Under international regulations, players may appear for different countries at youth level without being permanently tied, with the ultimate choice only final once they play in a competitive full international. Pitarch has featured for Spain at underage levels, representing both the U19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where La Roja reached the last eight. Despite this, he has yet to commit to any full national side, who are monitoring his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, Pitarch confirmed: "I haven't made my final decision so far. Things are great with Spain, but I'll make a decision soon." His situation echoes that of other dual nationality talents such as Real team-mate Brahim Diaz and Barca star Yamal. While teenage Lamine chose La Roja, Diaz decided to play for the Atlas Lions. Eyes on the Prize For now, his attention is on making his mark in the Real side and rewarding Arbeloa's faith. He featured for over an hour in the two-one win at City, which completed a 5-1 overall triumph and a quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich. He was replaced by fellow youth graduate in Manuel Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in the next generation to help the team pursue trophies to come. After his notable contributions to date on the Champions League, Pitarch is tipped to be a central figure in that. "Arbeloa handles me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to deserve my playing time on the pitch," he commented after the success at Manchester.
The teenager has featured in seven games for the Spanish giants, featuring five appearances in the starting lineup. When an teenage creates club a historic moment in a pivotal Champions League match against Manchester City, it naturally attracts praise and attention. During his first start in the competition - and fifth appearance for the team - the young midfielder made a strong impression as the fifteen-time European champions secured a 3-0 round of 16 first leg advantage at the Bernabeu. The young player, who also had his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Sporting Lisbon, then assisted the Madrid side defeat the English Premier League side in Tuesday's return to secure a last eight place. At 18 years old, the midfielder became the team's youngest player to start twice in the Champions League's latter rounds, surpassing star Vinicius Jr's record by 10 days. 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 exciting protegees. He joined Madrid from Leganes in 2023, having previously been with Atletico Madrid and Getafe's academies, and initially featuring for the under-19 side, where he rapidly created a strong impression. He progressed to the B team and it was in a friendly match in which they faced the academy's first team, then managed by the former defender, where the youngster is said to have drawn the eye of the current Real boss, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January. Spanish media would later label the moment as "love at first sight," noting he excelled not only for his technical ability, but for the energy, personality and determination he brought to the side. 'His Best Attribute Is His Character' During the summer of 2025, ex-manager Alonso invited Pitarch to train with the first team and gave him playing time during the warm-up matches. Yet, it was Arbeloa's appointment that proved the defining moment in his development as he was introduced as a second-half replacement in both ties against Benfica that led to the clash with Manchester City. "I've dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the very first time I started playing football, every day you go to train and each day you play a match," said Pitarch after his debut. "I've just achieved my dream with the greatest club in the planet and in the top tournament." Handed a starting debut in the Spanish league against his former club - where he was for four years after arriving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his spot for the following four as injuries to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos created an opportunity. The teenager has seized it with displays that have belied his age and experience. "He is a very quick player, and you can observe what he's capable of," remarked the coach. "He is extremely dynamic, with great stamina, effort and movement." Pitarch's mentality has also stood out to his manager. "His greatest quality is his personality," added Arbeloa. "He always wants the possession, and when pressed, he doesn't feel it. "I understand fans might be surprised to see him start in a European fixture, but he is selected because I had total trust in him to perform what he usually does. "Thiago will keep receiving opportunities with the first team. It's a pleasure to have a player like him." A Future International Decision Pitarch was born in a Madrid suburb, in the Spanish capital's community, and was raised deeply involved in the local game, progressing through local academies before joining the club's famous youth academy. He holds both Moroccan and Spanish nationality, giving him the option to play for either country at senior international level. Under international regulations, players may appear for different countries at youth level without being permanently tied, with the ultimate choice only final once they play in a competitive full international. Pitarch has featured for Spain at underage levels, representing both the U19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where La Roja reached the last eight. Despite this, he has yet to commit to any full national side, who are monitoring his progress with keen attention. Speaking recently, Pitarch confirmed: "I haven't made my final decision so far. Things are great with Spain, but I'll make a decision soon." His situation echoes that of other dual nationality talents such as Real team-mate Brahim Diaz and Barca star Yamal. While teenage Lamine chose La Roja, Diaz decided to play for the Atlas Lions. Eyes on the Prize For now, his attention is on making his mark in the Real side and rewarding Arbeloa's faith. He featured for over an hour in the two-one win at City, which completed a 5-1 overall triumph and a quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich. He was replaced by fellow youth graduate in Manuel Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in the next generation to help the team pursue trophies to come. After his notable contributions to date on the Champions League, Pitarch is tipped to be a central figure in that. "Arbeloa handles me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to deserve my playing time on the pitch," he commented after the success at Manchester.