Morocco continues pursuit of Real Madrid talent Thiago Pitarch despite Spain youth call-up

Royal Moroccan Football Federation is reportedly maintaining its efforts to secure the international allegiance of rising Real Madrid CF talent Thiago Pitarch despite his recent involvement with Spain’s youth national teams.

According to reports from AS, the midfielder has already been integrated into Spain’s national team structure, but Morocco has not abandoned its ambition of convincing the player to represent the Atlas Lions before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

When Luis de la Fuente, head coach of the Spain national football team, was asked during the summer about the possibility of another Real Madrid prospect, Gonzalo, moving quickly into the senior national team, he made it clear that the player must first prove himself with the Under-21 side.

The response was not interpreted as a dismissal but rather as part of the development pathway. The Real Madrid youngster treated the situation as motivation and responded strongly, scoring three goals and providing one assist in his first five appearances with Spain’s Under 21 team.

His performances quickly made him a central figure in the attacking setup of the generation, which is also expected to include his Real Madrid teammate Thiago Pitarch in the near future.

The academy graduate’s inclusion in the starting lineup in recent matches, particularly after an impressive performance against RC Celta de Vigo, drew the attention of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. His rise through the ranks did not come as a surprise given his development within the Real Madrid system.

Because of his dual Spanish and Moroccan nationality, the player had been the subject of interest from both countries. Spain eventually moved quickly to secure his commitment last summer by integrating him into their youth national teams.

The move was followed by his selection for the Spain squad by coach Paco Gallardo for the FIFA U-20 World Cup last September.

Despite Spain’s clear plans for the player’s progression through the youth ranks, Morocco is still monitoring the situation closely. The Moroccan federation is expected to continue its attempts to persuade the midfielder to switch allegiance and potentially offer him a place in the national team setup ahead of the next World Cup if his development continues at a high level.

For now, however, the player’s commitment to Spain’s youth teams remains firm. Should his performances and confidence continue to grow, the next logical step in his international career could be a call-up to the Spain Under-21 national team.