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Real Madrid prospect Thiago Pitarch faces a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a "serious" knee injury.
The 18-year-old, who featured 16 times for the senior side in 2025–26, picked up the injury during Madrid's opening preseason training session following what has been described as an "awkward movement."
Madrid journalist Arancha Rodríguez reports that the midfielder is expected to remain sidelined for a minimum of six weeks, placing his potential return sometime in September. This means he will miss at least the opening three fixtures of Real Madrid's new campaign.
Pitarch also shared a photo on social media displaying his injured knee.
Bright Start Interrupted for Pitarch
The teenager had been in high spirits over the summer, having recently returned from representing Spain's U-19 side, with whom he claimed the UEFA European Championship title in Wales.
Pitarch was among six Spanish players selected for the official Team of the Tournament, as his nation defeated Germany 2–0 in the final.
Prior to that, Pitarch had started to cement his place at Real Madrid after being integrated into the first team by Álvaro Arbeloa during the second half of the 2025–26 season. He registered two assists across 10 La Liga appearances and caught the eye with his energy and technical quality from a deep-lying midfield position.
AS recently noted that the youngster had turned down the chance of an extended post-international break to return to Real Madrid training ahead of schedule, driven by a desire to impress new head coach Mourinho.
Mourinho is said to view the youngster as "a highly talented player with a bright future."
Midfield Lack of Depth an Issue
On a personal level, Pitarch's injury is a blow for a young player keen to build on a breakthrough campaign. More broadly, it shines a light on Madrid's thin options in central midfield.
Heading into the new season, Mourinho has only Aurélien Tchouaméni available as a dedicated defensive midfielder. While Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and new arrival Bernardo Silva can each fill the role to some degree, none are natural selections. Questions also persist over the long-term futures of both Tchouaméni and Camavinga.
Madrid frequently struggled for intensity and defensive solidity in central areas last season — a vulnerability that contributed to Pitarch's promotion from the academy. His absence now risks reopening those familiar weaknesses.
While a high-profile deal for Yan Diomande edges closer to completion, Madrid have been slower to address their longer-term objective of securing a defensive midfielder capable of functioning in Mourinho's favored double pivot and providing greater control in matches.
Following what appeared to be initial hesitation from president Florentino Pérez, interest in Manchester City and Spain international Rodri has intensified in recent days. That pursuit may be accelerated once the Diomande deal is finalized, though Madrid could still face stiff competition for the World Cup Golden Ball winner from both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.