Real Madrid decide 19-year-old first-team midfielder will play for Castilla after lengthy knee injury

Real Madrid have decided to give Thiago Pitarch his first competitive minutes of the season with Castilla as the midfielder continues his recovery from a knee injury.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the move has been agreed in advance between the club and the 19-year-old and is designed to give him the match exposure he needs after missing Jose Mourinho’s entire pre-season and the start of the 2026/27 season.

Notably, Pitarch remains part of Mourinho’s first-team setup despite being officially registered with Castilla. 

Hence, the plan is for him to use the international break to rebuild his match fitness before returning to the senior squad once the window closes.

Pitarch set for Castilla return against Sant Andreu

The midfielder is expected to feature for Castilla against Sant Andreu at Can Drago on Wednesday, in a fixture that was postponed last weekend because of the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

Thiago Pitarch is yet to play under Jose Mourinho. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

For Pitarch, the game would be an important step after months of rehabilitation. His recovery has followed the timeline established by Real Madrid, and the club now believes competitive football is the right way to test his knee.

The decision has been taken collectively by Real Madrid, Mourinho and the player, with the priority being to avoid rushing him directly back into first-team football.

Pitarch has already been involved with Mourinho’s senior squad on several occasions but has yet to make his competitive debut. 

Castilla therefore provides a controlled environment in which he can gradually build his rhythm.

Real Madrid could give Pitarch more minutes

For what it is worth, the Castilla assignment may not be limited to one appearance, as Pitarch has a serious chance of featuring against Alcorcon on September 27 and Atletico Madrid B on October 2.

Thiago Pitarch will play for Castilla during the international break. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Both Primera RFEF fixtures will take place at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, giving Pitarch further opportunities to increase his workload without immediately being exposed to the demands of first-team football.

That could be particularly useful given the midfielder missed the entire pre-season with Mourinho’s squad. 

As such, competitive minutes will allow Real Madrid to assess how his knee responds before he returns to the senior group.

The expectation, after the aforementioned, is that Pitarch will rejoin the first team after the international break.

His Castilla spell should therefore be viewed as part of the final stage of his recovery rather than a change in his position within Mourinho’s plans.