Thiago Pitarch's future: last-minute update!

Real Madrid C.F.

The club's plan for the young midfielder does not involve a departure or a return to Castilla on a full-time basis. Even if he can keep a place on the reserve team roster for squad-number reasons, the sporting treatment will be that of another first-team player.

The Real Madrid has thus shut the door on proposals that had come in for Thiago, including one from Fulham that offered several attractions: the presence of Arbeloa, the financial side, and the role he could play in the English project. The player's priority, though, was to keep wearing white and fight for a place.

The injury he suffered in his first training session with the first team put a stop to the start of that battle. The diagnosis pointed to the left knee's medial collateral ligament and an estimated layoff of a month and a half, right when the player was looking to make an impression in pre-season after being crowned with the Under-19s.

Mourinho maintains his confidence

That setback has not changed Mourinho's thinking. The Portuguese coach was already coming in with good references about Thiago and the recovery process has strengthened his intention to count on him when he is back available.

Last season positioned the academy player as one of La Fábrica's big breakthroughs. Now he will have to find space in a midfield with plenty of competition, especially in the 4-2-3-1 system used by Mourinho, where names such as Tchouameni, Valverde, Camavinga and Bernardo appear for the double pivot.

Thiago, who has just turned 19, faces the challenge with the club's and the coach's confidence. He already convinced Arbeloa, caught Xabi's attention, and now he is also back in Mourinho's plans.