Real Madrid's Thiago Pitarch Chooses Spain Over Morocco
Real Madrid youngster Thiago Pitarch has snubbed Morocco to pledge his future to Spain's under-18s.
The 17-year-old midfielder, tipped for a bright future at the Bernabéu, has accepted Spain head coach David Tenorio's invitation to join La Roja 26-man squad for an upcoming training camp from April 1 to 9, shutting the door on his Moroccan heritage – for now.
Born in Fuenlabrada, just outside Madrid, Pitarch honed his footballing skills at Atlético Madrid, Getafe, and Leganés before joining Real's famed La Fábrica academy. Despite Moroccan roots through his father and grandparents from Al Hoceima, Pitarch has opted to represent Spain's youth team.
According to reports from Spanish media outlets Mundo Deportivo and Marca, Spain acted quickly to lock Pitarch down before Morocco could swoop in with an official call-up for their U17 setup.
Pitarch is capable of playing in central midfield or as a wide man. Los Blancos' coaches are keeping a close eye on his progress, hoping he will soon break into the first-team setup under the watchful eye of academy coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
The teenager's decision is the latest twist in the tug-of-war between federations for top dual-nationality talents – most notably for Chemsdine Talbi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Brahim Rabbaj.
Morocco had high hopes of securing his services for the youth team, but Spain's early intervention appears to have won the contest. Tags: Ayyoub BouaddiChemsdine TalbiReal MadridThiago PitarchU17 Morocco
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
26 minutes ago
- Morocco World
Morocco vs Benin: Possible Lineup, Score Prediction
Morocco return to action tonight against Benin in their second outing of the international break, looking to bounce back after an unconvincing performance against Tunisia. The match, although officially a friendly, carries weight. With the 2026 World Cup draw looming, head coach Walid Regragui is under pressure to refine his squad and pick up results that could boost the team's FIFA ranking. Kick-off is at 9 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) and fans can catch the action live on Arryadia HD. The Tunisia win may have ended 2–0, but let's not kid ourselves, it wasn't convincing. The first half was flat, and a few big names didn't turn up. Youssef En-Nesyri looked lost, Sofyan Amrabat couldn't dictate the tempo, and Bilal El Khannouss seemed out of sync. Ismael Saibari, stuck out wide, was a tactical misfire. Changes are expected. Ayoub El Kaabi is pushing for a start after strong goals-scoring form with Olympiacos in the Greek league. At the same time, Soufiane Rahimi caught the eye with a lively cameo and could feature as a second supporting striker. Targhalline is also in contention to start as a holding midfielder ahead of Amrabat, with Regragui keen to find the perfect formula in the middle of the park. Tactically, Morocco may switch to a more compact shape. A midfield trio of Targhalline, Ounahi and El Khannouss could offer more stability, with the latter playing closer to the final third. In defense, Adam Masina impressed on his return and is likely to keep his place next to Jawad Al Yamiq. Achraf Hakimi remains vital down the right, and Youssef Belammari is tipped to start on the left. The Botola Pro and Confederation Cup Champion Munir Mohamedi could replace Yassine Bounou. Possible lineup: Munir – Hakimi, El Yamiq, Masina, Belammari – Targhalline, Ounahi, El Khannouss – Rahimi, Ben Seghir, El Kaabi Predicted score: Benin are expected to sit deep and absorb pressure from a technically superior Moroccan frontline. If the Atlas Lions manage to score early, confidence will surge, and the floodgates could very well open to bang more goals. MWN say: Morocco 3-0 Benin Tags: Achraf HakimiBeninfriendlyMoroccoWalid Regragui
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan Football icons from Fez and Meknès honored in special ceremony
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) held a reception on Sunday in Fez to honor former Moroccan internationals who once played for COD Meknès and Maghreb de Fez. The event, hosted at the Atlas Lions' residence in Fez on the eve of the friendly match against Benin at the city's sports complex, aimed to celebrate the careers of several iconic players who have left a lasting mark on the history of Moroccan football, the FRMF said in a statement. The tribute also sought to preserve the legacy and collective memory of former Atlas Lions across generations, the same source added. Among the Maghreb de Fez (MAS) honorees were: Abdelaali Zaharoui, Abdellah Tazi, Abderrahmane Slimani, Aziz Slimani, Fatah El Ghiati, Mohamed El Achhabi, Hamid El Kharak, Boubker El Ghandour, Lohssine Bensouda, Hassan Rafahia, Omar Hassy, Abdellah Bagui, and Redouane El Guezzar. From COD Meknès (CODEM), the players recognized included: Hamadi Hmidouch, Abdelghani Lakhal El Ghouini, Hamid Abdelouaheb, Abdellatif Benhalima, Mohamed Samba, Mostapha Bidane, and Idriss Badidi. This FRMF initiative also provided an opportunity for exchange between past and present generations of players, and sparked dialogue around the evolution of modern football, the statement concluded.
Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
Real Madrid Signs Franco Mastantuono in Record-Breaking Deal
Real Madrid has secured one of the most sought-after young talents in world football with the signing of Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. At just 17 years old, the Argentine midfielder, who recently made his senior debut for the national team, is set to join the Spanish giants on a contract running until June 2031. The transfer was confirmed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, and has set a new record in Argentine football, with the total fee reaching $65 million. River Plate will receive $48 million, the full release clause, in a single payment, with additional taxes and fees raising the final cost for Madrid. River Plate had hoped to keep Mastantuono until the end of the season, but the player's desire to move to Europe, combined with a personal call from new Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, ultimately sealed the deal. Mastantuono will officially join Madrid in August, shortly after turning 18 on August 14. He will start with a lower-tier salary at Madrid, with performance-based increases and a signing bonus included in his contract. His arrival strengthens Madrid's focus on nurturing young talent, adding him to a growing pool of emerging stars that already includes Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Federico Valverde, Endrick, and Arda Guler. Mastantuono's journey to football stardom hasn't been straightforward. Growing up, he was a promising tennis player, and his family even pushed him to pursue a career with a racket rather than a football. In fact, when he was just 9, his first trial with River Plate was turned down. But Mastantuono's heart was always in football, and by 2019, he signed with River Plate, leaving tennis behind for good. At River Plate, it didn't take long for his talent to shine. By the time he was 14, he was called up to Argentina's U17 team, and by 2024, he was already playing for the U20 squad under coach Javier Mascherano. His performances with the youth teams were so impressive that he was quickly promoted to the first team. In January 2024, Mastantuono made his official senior debut for River Plate, becoming the club's third-youngest debutant at just 16. A few weeks later, he made history by becoming River Plate's youngest-ever goal scorer in a competitive match against CA Excursionistas, breaking a record previously held by the likes of Javier Saviola. Mastantuono is a versatile player who can play in several positions. Whether it's as a right-winger, central midfielder, or second striker, he has the ability to make an impact. His vision, dribbling skills, and football IQ are all far beyond his years, and he's already showing the composure and maturity of a much older player. Even as a teenager, Mastantuono is already showing leadership qualities, demanding the ball and taking responsibility in high-pressure situations. His performances have caught the eye of top European clubs, but Real Madrid acted swiftly to snatch the budding attacker. Tags: Franco MastantuonoReal Madrid
