Real Madrid News
Real Madrid decide 19-year-old first-team midfielder will play for Castilla after lengthy knee injury
Real Madrid have decided to give Thiago Pitarch his first competitive minutes of the season with Castilla as the midfielder continues his recovery from a knee injury.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the move has been agreed in advance between the club and the 19-year-old and is designed to give him the match exposure he needs after missing Jose Mourinho’s entire pre-season and the start of the 2026/27 season.
Notably, Pitarch remains part of Mourinho’s first-team setup despite being officially registered with Castilla.
Hence, the plan is for him to use the international break to rebuild his match fitness before returning to the senior squad once the window closes.
Pitarch set for Castilla return against Sant Andreu
The midfielder is expected to feature for Castilla against Sant Andreu at Can Drago on Wednesday, in a fixture that was postponed last weekend because of the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.
For Pitarch, the game would be an important step after months of rehabilitation. His recovery has followed the timeline established by Real Madrid, and the club now believes competitive football is the right way to test his knee.
The decision has been taken collectively by Real Madrid, Mourinho and the player, with the priority being to avoid rushing him directly back into first-team football.
Pitarch has already been involved with Mourinho’s senior squad on several occasions but has yet to make his competitive debut.
Castilla therefore provides a controlled environment in which he can gradually build his rhythm.
Real Madrid could give Pitarch more minutes
For what it is worth, the Castilla assignment may not be limited to one appearance, as Pitarch has a serious chance of featuring against Alcorcon on September 27 and Atletico Madrid B on October 2.
Both Primera RFEF fixtures will take place at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, giving Pitarch further opportunities to increase his workload without immediately being exposed to the demands of first-team football.
That could be particularly useful given the midfielder missed the entire pre-season with Mourinho’s squad.
As such, competitive minutes will allow Real Madrid to assess how his knee responds before he returns to the senior group.
The expectation, after the aforementioned, is that Pitarch will rejoin the first team after the international break.
His Castilla spell should therefore be viewed as part of the final stage of his recovery rather than a change in his position within Mourinho’s plans.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfield mainstay set for 50% pay rise as contract talks advance – report
Real Madrid have made significant progress in negotiations with Jude Bellingham’s representatives over a new contract and are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the end of 2026, according to Graeme Bailey.
The England midfielder is already under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2029, but Los Blancos have been keen to revisit his terms after his continued rise in importance for both club and country.
On that note, the proposed renewal would reward Bellingham with a substantial salary increase and strengthen his position among Real Madrid’s highest-paid players.
Bellingham in line for huge Real Madrid pay rise
The journalist states that Bellingham currently earns around €20 million per season, but the proposed agreement would take his salary beyond €30 million annually.
This represents an increase of roughly 50% and would place the England star in the same financial bracket as Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, who also renewed his contract with substantial pay rise earlier this year.
Notably, the club’s thinking is closely linked to Bellingham’s status within the team.
Madrid consider him one of the leading midfielders in world football and believe his performances have put him into the conversation for the next Ballon d’Or.
His latest international displays have only reinforced that view, with Bellingham playing a starring role for England against Croatia.
Real Madrid want Bellingham tied down beyond 2029
The proposed renewal is expected to extend Bellingham’s commitment beyond his current 2029 expiry date, with a deal running until at least 2031 being discussed.
The precise length could depend on when the final agreement is signed, but Madrid’s intention is for Bellingham to be tied down for the foreseeable future.
Real Madrid’s proposal also gets strong backing from the fact that Bellingham is certainly not looking for a way out of the Bernabeu.
The midfielder is happy with life in Madrid and committed to continuing his career with the Spanish giants, making the current negotiations more about securing an agreement that reflects his status than trying to convince him to stay.
