Real Madrid News
Arbeloa sets sights on third Real Madrid youngster for Fulham; player open to reunion
Fulham’s summer business with Real Madrid may not be over just yet. After completing deals for Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, the Premier League club has now identified Thiago Pitarch as another priority signing.
Indeed, with Alvaro Arbeloa now leading Fulham’s project, the English side continues to look towards Valdebebas for reinforcements, and Pitarch has become the latest academy player on their radar, reports MARCA.
Move progressing at a slower pace
Unlike the transfers of Gonzalo and Palacios, negotiations for Pitarch are expected to take longer.
Fulham are currently focused on strengthening several positions and continue to pursue other midfield targets, including Shea Charles, whose club Southampton value him at around €30 million.
Pitarch’s recent knee injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined for several weeks, has also reduced the urgency surrounding the deal and allowed Fulham to approach negotiations more patiently.
Player open to reunion with Arbeloa
Despite the slower pace, Fulham are optimistic because Thiago is open to the idea of reuniting with Arbeloa.
Initial discussions have already taken place between the club and Pitarch’s representatives, with the midfielder said to be enthusiastic about joining his former coach alongside Gonzalo and Palacios.
From Fulham’s perspective, convincing the player is not expected to be an obstacle.
Mourinho’s arrival changes the picture
Pitarch’s future at Real Madrid became less certain following Arbeloa’s departure.
Although he has been involved in Jose Mourinho’s pre-season plans, Real Madrid currently see him as a player for Castilla rather than someone expected to establish himself immediately in the first team.
That uncertainty has encouraged the midfielder to seriously consider a move where regular senior football could accelerate his development.
Pitarch enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough last season, earning significant opportunities in the senior squad.
He made 16 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League, starting several important matches, including both legs of the European tie against Manchester City and the first leg against Bayern Munich.
Arbeloa’s biggest success story
Few players illustrate Arbeloa’s influence on Real Madrid’s academy better than Pitarch.
The coach oversaw every major milestone in the midfielder’s rapid rise at the club, handing him his debut for Juvenil A in January 2025, before giving him his maiden appearance for Castilla in September.
Come February this year, Arbeloa was the one to give Thiago his first-team debut for Real Madrid.
In just over a year, Pitarch progressed through three levels under the same coach, becoming one of Arbeloa’s greatest success stories at La Fabrica.
A move to Fulham would reunite player and coach once again, potentially marking the latest chapter in a partnership that has shaped Pitarch’s career from the very beginning.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
