ES
Thiago Pitarch, an 18-year-old midfielder developed in Real Madrid’s youth academy and currently a student at SEK International School Ciudalcampo, experienced one of the most important milestones of his young career on Monday, March 2, 2026, when he made his first LaLiga start for Real Madrid’s first team. The match, played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium against Getafe, ended in a 0–1 defeat for the home side.
The Madrid-born academy player, born on August 3, 2007, in Fuenlabrada and a regular member of Real Madrid Castilla, was named in the starting eleven of the first team for the first time at just 18 years and seven months old. This achievement makes him one of the twenty youngest players in history to start a league match for the club.
From the academy to the first team
Pitarch trained in several Madrid-based youth academies — including Atlético de Madrid, Getafe, and Leganés — before joining Real Madrid’s academy in 2023, where he steadily progressed to become a key figure for Castilla. His first official appearance with the senior team came on February 17, 2026, when he made his debut in the Champions League against Benfica, coming on as a substitute in the final minutes of the match and describing the experience as “a dream come true” after years of hard work and dedication.
That initial step, in addition to showcasing his talent at the highest European level, strengthened the coaching staff’s confidence in his ability to compete at the top tier. With several absences in Real Madrid’s midfield, the coach decided to place his trust in him for a starting role in the LaLiga fixture, marking a turning point in his professional career.
