Morocco target Real Madrid prospect Thiago Pitarch as Mohamed Ouahbi steps up international pursuit

Morocco have made an early move to recruit Real Madrid midfielder Thiago Pitarch, with head coach Mohamed Ouahbi travelling to Spain to speak directly to the young player about representing the North African country.

According to Moroccan website Hesport, Ouahbi held talks with Pitarch in an effort to persuade him to choose Morocco at senior international level. The approach is based on the player’s Moroccan heritage, despite his previous involvement with Spain’s youth teams.

The timing of the intervention is significant, with Pitarch entering an important stage of his development at Real Madrid. The midfielder is understood to be moving closer to consideration for the club’s first team after impressing with Real Madrid Castilla.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has praised Pitarch’s ability and his performances for Castilla. Mourinho has said the youngster has shown that he deserves to be part of the senior group and will be given an opportunity with the first team once he reaches the required level of readiness.

However, Mourinho has also urged Pitarch to concentrate on his physical development. The manager has called on him to work on his strength, particularly by building up the muscles in his legs and increasing his overall muscle mass.

Pitarch has not yet made a final decision over which country he will represent at senior level. His appearances for Spain have so far come in the younger age groups, meaning he remains eligible to make a different choice before committing himself to a senior national team.

That has created an opportunity for Morocco to act before Spain makes a definitive claim on the player. The Moroccan national team has moved quickly to establish contact with a prospect who is developing inside one of European football’s biggest clubs.

Ouahbi’s decision to meet Pitarch in person also reflects Morocco’s wider effort to identify and attract players of Moroccan origin who are coming through the academies of leading European clubs. The aim is to broaden the options available to the national team and strengthen the pool of young talent who could contribute to the future of the Lions of the Atlas.

Pitarch’s progress at Real Madrid will now be followed closely in Morocco, particularly as he approaches the possibility of involvement with the club’s senior squad. His international future, however, remains unresolved, with both his Spanish background at youth level and his Moroccan eligibility forming part of the decision ahead.