Speaking from the Spain Under-21 camp, young Real Madrid player Thiago Pitarch gave an interview to Marca in which he described his first experiences with the club’s first team, his Champions League debut and his relationship with manager José Mourinho.
Shock of the first Real Madrid call-up
Pitarch revealed that his first promotion to train with the Real Madrid senior side came immediately after a trip with the reserves to Marbella. He said: "As soon as I returned from Marbella with the reserve team, they told me I would be moving up to train with the first team, and Xabi Alonso was there, and I couldn't believe what was happening, because I had never moved up to training with him before."
Pitarch admitted that he felt great awe during that first session. He said: "I was terrified in my first training session with Real Madrid."
During that same training, he also managed to score. He said: "I scored a goal in my first training session after a pass from Mbappé, and I must ask them for that video."
Champions League debut and minutes with the first team
Pitarch made his first appearance in the Champions League against Benfica. Reflecting on that debut, he said: "I wasn't expecting that, I was nervous, but the ball makes me feel calm."
This season, Pitarch has managed 1 minute with the Real Madrid first team, while he continues to build experience with the Castilla side in Spain's Primera Federación, the third tier.
Relationship with José Mourinho
The teenager also spoke about his relationship with José Mourinho and how the manager deals with his players. He said: "Mourinho is very close to everyone, and he jokes a lot, but he is also serious when the situation requires it."
José Mourinho has defended Pitarch’s standing before, insisting Pitarch is a first-team player. Pitarch also said: "It is a great honour for a manager like him to say positive things about me."
Path to Real Madrid and family support
Marca’s interview from the Spain Under-21 camp also covered Pitarch’s development before arriving at Real Madrid. He started out at the Atlético Madrid foundation under Serbian coach Milinko Pantić, then had spells at the academies of Getafe and Leganés before joining Real Madrid in 2023.
On his move to Real Madrid, he said: "When the chance to join the club at the age of 16 appeared, I did not hesitate for a single moment."
Playing for Real Madrid had always been his dream. He said: "I always wanted to become a footballer at Real Madrid, the best club in the world. This is the life I want to live, and I handle everything very calmly."
Pitarch found settling in at Real Madrid not easy at first but stressed that he learned a great deal from the experience. He also praised the support of his parents throughout his career, saying they rarely missed his training sessions or matches.
