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

When an 18-year-old makes club a historic moment in a pivotal European tie against City, it inevitably draws acclaim and the spotlight.

In only his first start in the competition - and fifth appearance for the team - the young midfielder suitably impressed as the 15-time Champions League winners claimed a 3-0 last-16 first-leg advantage at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The young player, who also had his club debut in the play-off round a month ago with a cameo off the bench at Benfica, then helped Los Blancos defeat the English Premier League side in the midweek return to confirm a quarter-final berth.

Aged 18 years old, the midfielder was the club's most youthful starter to begin two matches in the Champions League knockout stages, surpassing Brazil forward Vinicius Jr's record by a week and a half.

Rapid Ascent Through La Fabrica

The midfielder is the most recent to emerge from the club's academy and is rapidly cementing himself as one of the manager's most promising young players.

He joined Madrid from Leganes in 2023, having previously been with Atletico and Getafe's youth teams, and starting out for the Juvenil C team, where he rapidly created a positive impact.

He progressed to the B team and it was in a friendly match in which they played against the academy's first team, then managed by the former defender, where the teenager is said to have caught the attention of the current Real boss, who replaced the previous coach in the new year.

Spanish media would later describe the moment as "love at first sight," noting Pitarch stood out not only for his technical ability, but for the energy, personality and drive he brought to the side.

'His Best Attribute Is His Personality'

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

Yet, it was Arbeloa's appointment that became the defining moment in his development as he came on as a late substitute in each leg against Benfica that led to the clash with Manchester City.

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

"I have just achieved my ambition with the best team in the planet and in the top tournament."

Given a first start in the Spanish league against his former club - where he spent four years after arriving from Atleti in 2018 - he has retained his spot for the next four as injuries to Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos provided an opportunity.

The teenager has seized it with performances that have belied his age and experience.

"He is a extremely fast player, and you can observe what he's capable of," remarked the coach. "He's incredibly dynamic, with great endurance, effort and mobility."

The player's mindset has also stood out to his coach.

"His greatest quality is his character," added he. "He constantly demands the ball, and even under pressure, he doesn't feel it.

"I understand fans might be surprised to see him make his debut in a Champions League match, but he is selected because I had complete confidence in him to perform what he usually does.

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

Spain or Morocco?

Pitarch was born in a Madrid suburb, in the Madrid region, and was raised deeply involved in the local game, progressing through local academies before entering Real Madrid's famous La Fabrica system.

He holds dual Spanish and Moroccan nationality, giving him the option to play for either country at the highest level.

According to international regulations, footballers may appear for different countries at junior level without being permanently tied, with the ultimate choice only binding once they appear in a official senior international match.

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

Nevertheless, he has yet to commit to any senior national team, who are watching his rise with keen attention.

In a recent interview, the player said: "I haven't made my ultimate choice so far. My situation is great with the Spanish federation, but I'll make a decision in the near future."

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

Focus on the Future

At present, Pitarch's focus is on establishing himself in the Madrid lineup and rewarding Arbeloa's faith.

He played over an hour in the 2-1 victory at the Etihad, which sealed a 5-1 aggregate success and a last-eight matchup with Bayern Munich.

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

Following his impressive impact so far on the Champions League, the midfielder is tipped to play a key role in that.

"Arbeloa handles me the identical way. We deal with it very naturally. I try not to think about it too much - I have to earn my playing time on the pitch," he said after the win at Manchester.