This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Gradually, the name Thiago Pitarch is starting to gain traction in the world of Real Madrid. Still at a junior age, the midfielder trained in Valdebebas has become one of the new sensations of the Merengue club – standing out, above all, for his technical quality and a rare calmness for someone who has just arrived in senior football. The story began symbolically. The young Spaniard made his debut for the first team at the Estádio da Luz, in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff against Benfica, coming on in the 90+4 minutes. A brief debut, but enough to mark the beginning of a new phase. Since then, growth and affirmation have been rapid. Following the match at the Luz, Thiago Pitarch began to gain space in Álvaro Arbeloa's selections. The young midfielder was even a starter in the last three matches of the Merengues, including a clash against Manchester City in the round of 16 of the prestigious tournament, a clear sign of the confidence the coach has in him. This confidence has never been hidden. The day before the game against the citizens, Arbeloa explained the difficulty – and the conviction – behind betting on a youth player. "Here are the best in the world, and to put a youth player in, you have to leave someone from the first team out… and that is not easy for a Real Madrid coach. But if I do it, it’s because I am convinced. He is a player who does not get nervous in moments of great tension. His pulse does not tremble; he has a fascinating calmness on the field." Pitarch has responded on the pitch. Against City, he delivered a very solid performance, with 94% passing accuracy (32 out of 34), almost half of them in the offensive zone, and 100% accuracy on long passes. He participated in building from the back, drove forward to gain yards, and appeared near the area to assist in the final pass, always with great composure. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium applauded him standing at the 50-minute mark after a remarkable defensive recovery and cheered him again when he left the field at the 76th minute. On a night of affirmation, he became the youngest Spaniard ever to start in a Champions League knockout match for Real Madrid, at 18 years and 220 days, surpassing Raúl's record. Therefore, in Madrid, there is a growing sense that he is not just another talent from the academy. Thiago Pitarch is, for many, the new gem beginning to shine at Real Madrid.
Benfica Real Madrid This remains central to this story.
Benfica Real Madrid This remains central to this story.
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