Real Madrid News
Real Madrid academy gem keen on fighting for a starting role under Mourinho
Thiago Pitarch’s rise to prominence was perhaps one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Real Madrid last season.
The youngster, stemming from La Fabrica, emerged as a first-team option for Alvaro Arbeloa at the age of just 18. He even featured in ten La Liga matches.
But things are changing and new coach Jose Mourinho will demand much more from Pitarch if he is to become a starter. And it seems the player is ready for the challenge.
Pitarch’s goal for next season
According to AS, Pitarch returns to Real Madrid on Monday with one clear objective in mind: to fight for a starting spot under Mourinho.
The midfielder reported back just nine days after helping Spain win the Under-19 European Championship.
Rather than dwelling on that success, Pitarch is eager to make the most of pre-season and stake his claim in the senior side.
It is evident that Pitarch is not viewed as just another youngster making up the numbers, having already established himself as an important first-team figure last season.
Mourinho impressed by early reports
Encouragingly for Pitarch, Mourinho is understood to have received very positive feedback about the teenager, regarding him as a highly talented player with a bright future.
The Portuguese coach wants to keep him close during pre-season to confirm those impressions before making an assessment.
Pitarch arrives in fine form too, having been named in the team of the tournament at the Euros, where he also finished as top assist provider with five, showcasing his quality as a number 10.
The challenge, though, is significant. While Dani Ceballos has departed and is now on the radar of Atletico Madrid, the arrival of Bernardo Silva adds further competition in midfield.
It is a scenario both Pitarch and Mourinho are anticipating. For a player who has navigated a winding path through Atletico, Getafe and Leganes, he certainly knows how to fight for his place.
Having already won over Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, Pitarch now begins the task of convincing Mourinho.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
