Morocco eye another Brahim Diaz-style coup with Real Madrid prodigy Thiago Pitarch

Morocco are hoping to replicate their successful pursuit of Brahim Diaz by convincing emerging Real Madrid talent Thiago Pitarch to commit his international future to the Atlas Lions.

The 18-year-old midfielder has rapidly emerged as one of the brightest prospects at the Spanish giants, forcing his way into the senior setup in recent weeks. Pitarch has started four consecutive matches under coach Álvaro Arbeloa, including a high-profile UEFA Champions League outing against Manchester City. His rapid rise has not only impressed supporters in Madrid but has also drawn attention from national team scouts.

According to reports in Spain, officials from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation have already begun engaging the youngster and his representatives. Their long-term vision reportedly includes integrating Pitarch into the senior national team well before the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

Pitarch is currently tied to Spain at youth level, having represented Spain in the junior ranks. However, he remains eligible for Morocco through family heritage, with one of his grandparents born in the North African nation. That connection has opened the door for Morocco to attempt another recruitment success similar to the one that saw Diaz switch allegiance from Spain to the Atlas Lions.

The midfielder has acknowledged the growing speculation around his international future but insists no final decision has been made.

“Morocco or Spain? I haven’t decided yet. Brahim talks to me a lot about Morocco and he feels very good in the national team.”

While Pitarch’s talent has quickly become evident at club level, breaking into Spain’s senior team may prove a far more difficult challenge. The midfield for Spain already features established stars such as Pedri, Martín Zubimendi, Gavi, Pablo Barrios and Rodri Hernández.