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Aug. 23, 2026 Updated 5:58 pm EDT
Real Madrid have rejected an approach from Lille for Thiago Pitarch as the French side seek to identify a potential replacement for Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The 19-year-old midfielder signed an improved contract this week, however, and Madrid intend to keep him.
Bouaddi is set to move to Manchester City on a contract to 2031, after The Athletic reported the clubs had agreed a deal consisting of an initial €95million (£81.4m; $110m) plus €5m (£4.3m; $5.8m) in potential add-ons.
Pitarch is head coach Davide Ancelotti’s preferred candidate to replace the Morocco international. He broke into Madrid’s first team last season, and became the club’s youngest player to feature in a Champions League quarter-final at 18 years and 247 days. He started both legs of the last-16 tie with Manchester City, and the first leg of the quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
The Spain under-20 international has made 16 first-team appearances for Madrid, registering two assists, and has attracted praise for his technical skills and ability to cover large areas of the pitch.
He was part of Spain’s under-19 European Championship success this summer, providing five assists and starting every match as his nation secured its 10th title without conceding a goal.
Aug 23, 2026
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