Why Real Madrid Possess 'Total Trust' in Teenager Pitarch

Whenever a 18-year-old creates Real Madrid a historic moment in a key European tie against City, it naturally attracts praise and the spotlight.

In only his maiden start in the tournament - and fifth game for the club - the young midfielder suitably impressed as the 15-time Champions League winners secured a three-nil round of 16 first leg advantage at the Bernabeu.

The young player, who also had his Real debut in the play-off round a month ago with a substitute appearance at Sporting Lisbon, then helped the Madrid side overcome the English champions in the midweek second leg to secure a quarter-final berth.

At 18 years and 226 days, Pitarch became the club's youngest player to start twice in the Champions League knockout stages, beating star Vinicius Jr's record by a week and a half.

A Meteoric Rise Through La Fabrica

The midfielder is the latest to emerge from the famed youth system and is quickly establishing himself as one of the manager's most exciting protegees.

He signed for Madrid from Leganes in the summer of 2023, having formerly spent time at Atletico and Getafe's academies, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he quickly made a strong impression.

He worked his way up to the reserve side and it was in a friendly match in which they played against the senior squad, then coached by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have caught the attention of the present manager, who replaced Xabi Alonso in January.

Spanish media would later label the moment as "an instant connection," noting Pitarch excelled not only for his skill on the ball, but for the energy, character and determination he brought to the team.

'His Greatest Quality Is His Character'

During the pre-season of 2025, ex-manager Xabi Alonso invited Pitarch to practice with the senior squad and awarded him minutes in the warm-up matches.

However, it was the change in manager that proved the turning point in his development as he came on as a second-half replacement in each leg against Benfica that led to the meeting with Pep Guardiola's team.

"I've dreamed of this each night when sleeping, the very first time I began playing the game, each day you head to training and every day you play a match," said the player after his first appearance.

"I've just fulfilled my ambition with the best team in the planet and in the best competition."

Handed a starting debut in the Spanish league against Getafe - where he was for several seasons after arriving from Atletico in 2018 - he has kept his place for the following four as fitness issues to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos created an opening.

Pitarch has taken it with performances that have belied his youth and experience.

"He's a extremely fast footballer, and you can see his capabilities," said the coach. "He is extremely dynamic, with great endurance, work-rate and mobility."

Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager.

"His standout trait is his character," added he. "He always wants the possession, and when pressed, he remains unfazed.

"I understand fans might be astonished to see him make his debut in a Champions League match, but he is selected because I had total confidence in him to do his normal game.

"He will continue to get opportunities with the first team. It is delightful to coach a player like him."

Spain or Morocco?

Born in Fuenlabrada, in the Madrid region, and was raised deeply involved in the local game, progressing through youth setups before joining the club's famous La Fabrica system.

He possesses both Moroccan and Spanish citizenship, offering him the choice to play for both nations at senior international level.

Under international regulations, footballers may appear for different countries at junior level without being permanently tied, with the final decision only binding once they appear in a competitive senior international match.

He has featured for Spain at youth level, representing both the under-19 and under-20 teams, and participated in the 2025 Youth World Cup, where Spain reached the last eight.

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

Speaking recently, the player said: "I haven't made my final decision so far. Things are great with Spain, but I'll make a conclusion in the near future."

His situation echoes that of other bi-national players such as club colleague Diaz and Barca star Lamine Yamal. While 18-year-old Yamal chose La Roja, Brahim decided to represent the Atlas Lions.

Focus on the Future

For now, his attention is on establishing himself in the Madrid lineup and repaying his manager's belief.

He played over an hour in the 2-1 victory at the Etihad, which sealed a five-one overall triumph and a quarter-final matchup with Bayern Munich.

His substitution by another academy player in Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in younger players to aid the team chase future success.

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

"Arbeloa treats me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I attempt not to overanalyze it excessively - I have to deserve my minutes on the pitch," he said after the success at Etihad Stadium.