The Reason Los Blancos Possess 'Complete Faith' in Teenager Pitarch

When an 18-year-old creates Real Madrid history in a pivotal Champions League match against Manchester City, it inevitably draws acclaim and the spotlight.

In only his first start in the competition - and fifth game for the club - the young midfielder made a strong impression as the 15-time European champions secured a three-nil round of 16 first leg lead at the Bernabeu.

The young player, who also had his club debut in the qualifying round a few weeks prior with a substitute appearance at Sporting Lisbon, then assisted Los Blancos defeat the English champions in Tuesday's return to secure a last eight berth.

At 18 years old, the midfielder became the team's most youthful starter to begin two matches in the Champions League's latter rounds, surpassing Brazil forward Vini Jr's previous mark by 10 days.

A Meteoric Rise Through The Academy

This talent is the latest to come through from the club's academy and is quickly establishing himself as one of Alvaro Arbeloa's most exciting young players.

He joined Madrid from CD Leganes in 2023, having formerly spent time at Atletico and Getafe academies, and initially featuring for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a strong impression.

Pitarch worked his way up to the reserve side and it was during a friendly match in which they played against the senior squad, then managed by Arbeloa, where the youngster is said to have caught the attention of the present manager, who replaced the previous coach in January.

Spanish media would later describe the moment as "an instant connection," noting Pitarch excelled not only for his technical ability, but for the vitality, character and determination he brought to the team.

'His Best Attribute Is His Character'

In the summer of 2025, former boss Xabi Alonso called up the youngster to train with the first team and gave him minutes during pre-season.

However, it was the change in manager that became the turning point in his career as he came on as a late substitute in both ties against Benfica that led to the clash with Manchester City.

"I have dreamed of this every night when sleeping, the first day I started playing the game, every day you head to training and each day you have a game," stated Pitarch after his debut.

"I have just fulfilled my dream with the greatest club in the planet and in the best competition."

Given a first start in La Liga against his former club - where he spent several seasons after arriving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his place for the following four as injuries to Bellingham and Dani Ceballos created an opportunity.

The teenager has seized it with performances that have defied his youth and inexperience.

"He is a very quick footballer, and you can see his capabilities," remarked the coach. "He's extremely dynamic, with great stamina, effort and mobility."

The player's mindset has also stood out to his manager.

"His standout trait is his personality," added he. "He constantly demands the possession, and when pressed, he doesn't feel it.

"I realize fans might be astonished to watch him start in a Champions League match, but he's playing because I had complete trust in him to perform his normal game.

"Thiago will continue to get chances with the main squad. It's a pleasure to have a talent like him."

Spain or Morocco?

Pitarch was born in Fuenlabrada, in the Madrid region, and was raised deeply involved in Spanish football, progressing through local academies before joining the club's renowned youth academy.

He holds both Moroccan and Spanish nationality, giving him the choice to represent either country at the highest level.

Under Fifa eligibility rules, footballers may represent multiple nations at youth level without being permanently tied, with the ultimate choice only final once they appear in a competitive full international.

Pitarch has played for the Spanish national team at youth level, turning out for both the U19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup, where La Roja reached the quarter-finals.

Despite this, he has yet to commit to either senior national team, who are monitoring his progress with keen attention.

Speaking recently, the player confirmed: "I have not taken my final decision yet. My situation is great with the Spanish federation, but I will reach a conclusion soon."

His situation echoes that of other dual nationality players such as Real team-mate Brahim Diaz and Barca star Lamine Yamal. While 18-year-old Lamine opted for La Roja, Diaz opted to represent the Atlas Lions.

Focus on the Future

At present, his attention is on making his mark in the Madrid lineup and rewarding Arbeloa's faith.

He featured for over an hour in the 2-1 victory at City, which completed a five-one aggregate success and a quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.

His substitution by fellow youth graduate in Manuel Angel to emphasise Arbeloa's trust in the next generation to help the team chase trophies to come.

Following his impressive impact to date on European football's biggest stage, the midfielder is expected to be a central figure in that.

"Arbeloa treats me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to think about it excessively - I have to earn my playing time on the field," he commented after the win at Manchester.