The Reason Los Blancos Possess 'Utter Trust' in Youngster Pitarch

Whenever a teenage creates club a historic moment in a key European tie against City, it naturally attracts praise and the spotlight.

In only his maiden start in the competition - and fifth game for the club - the young midfielder made a strong impression as the 15-time Champions League winners claimed a 3-0 last-16 first leg lead at the Bernabeu.

The teenager, who also had his club debut in the play-off round a few weeks prior with a substitute appearance at Benfica, then helped Los Blancos overcome the English Premier League side in the midweek second leg to confirm a quarter-final berth.

Aged 18 years old, the midfielder was the team's youngest player to start twice in the Champions League knockout stages, beating star Vini Jr's previous mark by 10 days.

Rapid Ascent Through The Academy

This talent is the most recent to come through from the club's academy and is quickly establishing himself as one of the manager's most promising young players.

He joined Real from Leganes in the summer of 2023, having formerly spent time at Atletico and Getafe academies, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he quickly made a positive impact.

He worked his way up to the B team and it was during a pre-season game in which they faced the academy's first team, then coached by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have caught the attention of the present manager, who replaced the previous coach in January.

Reports would later label the moment as "love at first sight," adding Pitarch stood out not only for his skill on the ball, but for the vitality, personality and determination he added to the side.

'His Greatest Quality Is His Character'

During the summer of 2025, former boss Xabi Alonso called up the youngster to practice with the first team and awarded him minutes during pre-season.

Yet, it was the change in manager that became the turning point in his career as he was introduced as a late substitute in each leg against the Portuguese side that led to the clash with Manchester City.

"I've dreamed of this every night before going to bed, the first day I began playing the game, each day you head to training and each day you play a match," stated the player after his debut.

"I've just achieved my dream with the greatest club in the planet and in the best competition."

Given a first start in La Liga against his former club - where he spent several seasons after arriving from Atletico in 2018 - he has retained his spot for the next four as injuries to Jude Bellingham and Ceballos provided an opportunity.

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

"He is a very quick footballer, and you can observe his capabilities," said the coach. "He's extremely dynamic, with excellent stamina, work-rate and movement."

Pitarch's mentality has also impressed his manager.

"His standout trait is his character," added he. "He constantly demands the ball, and even under pressure, he remains unfazed.

"I realize fans might be surprised to see him start in a Champions League match, but he is selected because I had complete trust 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."

Spain or Morocco?

Born in a Madrid suburb, in the Spanish capital's community, and grew up deeply involved in the local game, progressing through youth setups before entering the club's renowned La Fabrica system.

He holds dual Spanish and Moroccan citizenship, giving him the choice to represent either country at senior international level.

Under international regulations, footballers may represent multiple nations at junior level without being locked in, with the ultimate choice only final once they play in a official senior international match.

Pitarch has played for Spain at underage levels, representing both the under-19 and under-20 sides, and participated in the 2025 Youth World Cup, where Spain reached the quarter-finals.

Despite this, he has not yet decided to either full national side, who are monitoring his rise with interest.

In a recent interview, Pitarch confirmed: "I have not taken my final decision so far. Things are great with the Spanish federation, but I'll make a conclusion soon."

This scenario mirrors that of other bi-national talents such as Real team-mate Diaz and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal. While teenage Lamine opted for La Roja, Brahim opted to play for Morocco.

Eyes on the Prize

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

He featured for over an hour in the 2-1 win at City, which completed a 5-1 overall triumph and a quarter-final matchup with Bayern Munich.

His substitution by fellow youth graduate in Manuel Angel underscored Arbeloa's trust in younger players to aid the team chase trophies to come.

After his impressive impact so far on the Champions League, Pitarch is tipped to be a central figure in that.

"The manager treats me the identical way. We deal with it very normally. I attempt not to overanalyze it too much - I have to deserve my minutes on the pitch," he said after the win at Manchester.