![[FREE TO READ] Thiago Pitarch: The 18-year-old who has changed the mood at Real Madrid](https://www.eucup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/xlh9m2Piwcb8q279voDDsFHl1TpCaPt29rTCwFOSTJE-1024x538.jpeg "[FREE TO READ] Thiago Pitarch: The 18-year-old who has changed the mood at Real Madrid")
Off the pitch, Thiago Pitarch’s personality reflects his age. He has no plans yet to get his driving licence, and after recent matches his father, Javier, has picked him up outside the Bernabeu.
The 18-year-old is Real Madrid’s breakout story of the season, on his way to becoming a star.
How did he get to this point?
A key figure in his development at La Fabrica has been Alvaro Arbeloa, who worked with him at under-19 level before stepping up to the first team. He has continued to show faith in the teenager at senior level, alongside other promising academy graduates Manuel Angel, Cesar Palacios and Jorge Cestero.
Pitarch has played eight matches – the last six as a starter – for the first team since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso as head coach… so what sets him apart?
by TheAthletic
3 Comments
It was about damn time we put faith in our academy players
Funny how the Athletic always has “sources” that remain “anonymous” even though they aren’t even saying anything spicy or anything anyone can take offence with.
“Sure I can tell you what makes Thiago special but only if you promise to make sure I remain anonymous” lmao sure. Gtfo.
Truly, the football department at the athletic practices the laziest form of journalism in the world. Make up shit supposed sources say instead of actually calling up a Madrid, Leganes or Spain youth coach who will be more than happy to go on the record…
Whole article is a nothing-burger.
I have no clue how Xabi saw Thiago and Endrick play and said naaah fuck those kids, let’s buy Temu Messieminem for 60 mill and keep Ceballos the only year clubs were willing to buy him and we could’ve asked more than 20 mill for him…oh and also fuck Modric he’s washed let him go…
Let’s see how he does if/when he ends up replacing Slot at Liverpool, with the kind of dressing room and squad planification he showed at Madrid i doubt he’d have an immediate impact