Thiago Pitarch set to stay at Real Madrid as Mourinho plans midfield role

Thiago Pitarch will remain at Real Madrid despite interest from Fulham, with manager Jose Mourinho deciding that the young midfielder should form part of his first-team plans.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Mourinho has intervened to prevent Pitarch from leaving the club and intends to rely on him once he has recovered from injury. The manager does not plan to send him back to Real Madrid Castilla, even though the player still holds a registration with the reserve team.

Instead, Pitarch is expected to be treated as a first-team footballer. Mourinho has reportedly rejected the prospect of the player moving on despite the arrival of attractive offers, with interest from Fulham standing out.

Fulham are managed by Alvaro Arbeloa, who is understood to have been among those interested in securing Pitarch’s services. However, the midfielder’s immediate future has now been settled, with Real Madrid choosing to keep him within Mourinho’s senior squad.

Pitarch returned to club football after helping Spain win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. His focus was reportedly clear: to fight for an opportunity and establish himself at Real Madrid.

He began pre-season with that ambition, only for an injury setback to interrupt his progress. The problem has delayed his involvement but has not changed the club’s view of his prospects or ended his hopes of competing for a place in the first team.

Mourinho believes Pitarch can contribute in midfield and sees a suitable role for him in the area. The player will now have to compete with a group of established names for regular opportunities.

Under Mourinho’s frequently used 4-2-3-1 system, the two deeper midfield positions are also contested by Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva. Despite that competition, Real Madrid’s manager believes there is room for Pitarch in the squad.

The decision means Pitarch will not follow the usual path of returning to Castilla after recovering from injury. Although his registration status remains linked to the reserve side, his treatment within the club will be that of a senior player.

For Pitarch, the next step will be to regain full fitness and compete for minutes when he is able to return. His desire to earn a place at Real Madrid, combined with Mourinho’s decision to retain him, has given the midfielder a continued opportunity to pursue that objective.

Fulham’s interest therefore will not result in a transfer at this stage. Real Madrid have chosen to keep Pitarch and allow him to compete for a midfield place alongside some of the club’s most established players.