Overview
- Reports on Saturday said Jose Mourinho intervened to stop summer exits for Thiago Pitarch and Brahim Díaz and has instructed the club to retain both as squad options.
- Pitarch will keep a Castilla registration card but will be treated and used as a first-team player rather than returned to the reserves.
- The young midfielder tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during pre-season and faces an estimated six-week recovery before he can rejoin training and selection.
- When fit, Pitarch will compete for a double‑pivot role with Aurelien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva for limited minutes.
- Real Madrid have rebuilt their squad this summer with multiple signings, including Yan Diomande, and Mourinho’s choice to retain academy prospects preserves internal depth while blocking Fulham’s concrete interest.