Real Madrid Wonderkid Thiago Pitarch Pushes for First-Team Chance After Impressive Return

Real Madrid youngster Thiago Pitarch has used the international break to finally get some football, and his form could earn him a first-team chance when the season restarts, according to Diario AS.

The 19-year-old midfielder had gone 73 days without playing after a knee injury wrecked his pre-season. He was not called up to Spain's Under-21 side, so Madrid agreed a plan with Jose Mourinho for him to play for Castilla instead of training alone at Valdebebas. The idea was to ease him back into match action.

Pitarch played against Sant Andreu and Alcorcon, then stood out in the mini-derby against Atletico Madrileno, with Mourinho watching from the stands. He covered a lot of ground and played more like a playmaker than a normal midfielder. He also scored with his left foot for Spain Under-20s in a 2-0 win over Mexico.

Castilla coach Julian Lopez de Lerma was full of praise. "I knew that he was going to take this game as if it were his last. Managing with Thiago is very easy," he said. "If we see him up there playing, we will be very happy for him."

Madrid have struggled to find the right balance in midfield, Federico Valverde has had injury problems, and Aurelien Tchouameni could be used at centre-back against Villarreal. That may open the door for Pitarch to get some minutes and show what he can do.