Since taking charge of Real Madrid in January, manager Alvaro Arbeloa has tapped into several talents from La Fabrica. Players like David Jimenez, Thiago Pitarch, and Cesar Palacios have all made appearances in La Liga and the Champions League, with one player already securing a permanent place in the senior team.
On Friday, Arbeloa awarded an 18-year-old Pitarch his first start for Real Madrid. Following a strong performance in the win over Celta Vigo, as noted in his impressive display, the decision was made to keep him in the first team for the remainder of the season, as reported by Diario AS.
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Arbeloa does not view Pitarch simply as a stopgap for the absences of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga; instead, he sees the teenager as a legitimate asset to his squad, even after just 152 minutes of play for the club.
Arbeloa’s Trust in Pitarch
Pitarch’s ability to stay on the field over Arda Guler during Friday’s match in Galicia highlights Arbeloa’s confidence in the young midfielder. Arbeloa intends to utilize him in the coming matches, and should he remain in the managerial role for the 2026-27 season, it seems likely that Pitarch will continue to be part of the plan.
Real Madrid’s historical apprehension in relying on academy players makes Pitarch’s emergence all the more significant for fans, who are excited to see him wearing the iconic white jersey. It will be intriguing to see if he maintains his spot in the lineup for the upcoming match against Manchester City on Wednesday, especially with Camavinga’s return from recent dental issues.