Thiago Pitarch is one of the new additions to Real Madrid’s roster for tonight’s UEFA Champions League match against SL Benfica.
The 18-year-old La Fabrica midfielder was a fixture in the first-team squad under Xabi Alonso, but this has not been the case since Alvaro Arbeloa took over.
However, following a standout performance against Marseille in the UEFA Youth League earlier this month, the teenager has been called up for the European match.
Coincidentally, it’s against a club he nearly signed for a few years ago.
Pitarch was set to join Benfica before Real Madrid interfered
According to AS, Thiago Pitarch was very close to signing for SL Benfica in 2023 while still at the Leganes academy. However, a phone call from Real Madrid blocked the transfer, and he ended up arriving at Valdebebas instead.
The 18-year-old midfield prospect joined Leganes’ junior system in 2022, following periods at Atletico Madrid and Getafe. He arrived as a cadet and was promoted to the Juvenil A (U19) setup within a month.
And his accomplishments in youth regional events did not go unnoticed, as Benfica came knocking in 2023.
The offering from the Portuguese powerhouses was extremely appealing. After all, they have one of Europe’s strongest academies and place a high value on developing their own players.
Pitarch was therefore considering joining Benfica. When Real Madrid entered the picture, everything seemed to be in place and the transfer was about to be completed.
The Spanish capital club had been keeping track of the exceptional youngster’s growth for some time, but when Benfica accelerated, they realized it was now or never.
Pitarch chose La Fabrica over Benfica’s academy after Real Madrid approached him. Now, he’s pounding on first-team doors, waiting for his debut, which could come tonight against a team he almost joined three years ago.
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