The Reason Los Blancos Have 'Complete Trust' in Youngster Thiago Pitarch

Whenever a teenage makes club a historic moment in a pivotal Champions League tie against City, it naturally attracts acclaim and the spotlight.

During his maiden start in the tournament - and fifth appearance for the club - the young midfielder suitably impressed as the fifteen-time European champions secured a 3-0 last-16 first leg advantage at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The young player, who also made his club debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Benfica, then helped the Madrid side defeat the English champions in the midweek second leg to confirm a last eight berth.

At 18 years and 226 days, the midfielder was the team's most youthful starter to start twice in the Champions League knockout stages, beating star Vinicius Jr's record by 10 days.

A Meteoric Rise From La Fabrica

The midfielder is the latest to come through from the club's academy and is rapidly cementing himself as one of the manager's most exciting young players.

He joined Real from CD Leganes in the summer of 2023, having previously been with Atletico and Getafe's academies, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a strong impression.

He worked his way up to the reserve side and it was in a pre-season game in which they faced the senior squad, then coached by Arbeloa, where the youngster is said to have drawn the eye of the current Real boss, who replaced the previous coach in the new year.

Reports would later describe the moment as "an instant connection," noting Pitarch stood out not only for his skill on the ball, but for the energy, personality and drive he added to the team.

'His Best Attribute Is His Character'

In the summer of 2025, ex-manager Alonso called up Pitarch to practice with the senior squad and gave him playing time in the warm-up matches.

However, it was Arbeloa's appointment that became the turning point in his development as he came on as a second-half replacement in both ties against Benfica that led to the meeting with Manchester City.

"I have dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the first day I began playing the game, each day you go to train and each day you have a game," said Pitarch following his first appearance.

"I have just achieved my dream with the best team in the world and in the top tournament."

Handed a starting debut in La Liga against his former club - where he was for several seasons after moving from Atleti in 2018 - he has kept his spot for the following four as fitness issues to Bellingham and Dani Ceballos provided an opportunity.

The teenager has seized it with performances that have belied his youth and experience.

"He's a extremely fast footballer, and you can observe what he's capable of," remarked Arbeloa. "He's incredibly dynamic, with great stamina, work-rate and mobility."

The player's mindset has also impressed his coach.

"His greatest quality is his personality," continued Arbeloa. "He constantly demands the ball, and when pressed, he remains unfazed.

"I understand people are surprised to see him start in a European fixture, but he is selected because I had complete confidence in him to do his normal game.

"He will keep receiving chances with the main squad. It's a pleasure to have a player like him."

A Future International Decision

Born in a Madrid suburb, in the Madrid region, and was raised fully immersed in the local game, progressing through local academies before joining the club's famous La Fabrica system.

He holds dual Spanish and Moroccan nationality, offering him the choice to represent both nations at senior international level.

Under international regulations, footballers may represent different countries at youth level without being locked in, with the final decision only final once they play in a competitive senior international match.

Pitarch has featured for Spain at youth level, turning out for both the under-19 and U20 teams, and took part 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 full national side, who are watching his progress with interest.

In a recent interview, Pitarch confirmed: "I haven't made my final decision yet. Things are great with the Spanish federation, but I'll make a decision in the near future."

This scenario echoes that of other dual nationality talents such as Real team-mate Diaz and Barcelona forward Yamal. Whereas 18-year-old Lamine opted for La Roja, Brahim opted to play for the Atlas Lions.

Eyes on the Prize

For now, his attention is on making his mark in the Real side and repaying Arbeloa's faith.

He played 74 minutes in the 2-1 victory at the Etihad, which sealed a five-one aggregate success and a quarter-final matchup with Bayern Munich.

His substitution by fellow youth graduate in Manuel Angel to emphasise Arbeloa's trust in the next generation to aid the club chase future success.

After his notable contributions to date on European football's biggest stage, Pitarch is tipped to play a key role in that.

"The manager treats me the identical way. We handle it very naturally. I try not to think about it too much - I have to earn my playing time on the field," he commented following the win at Etihad Stadium.