Real Madrid midfield talent handed golden opportunity to impress Mourinho in pre-season | OneFootball

Every setback creates a new opportunity, and Thiago Pitarch’s injury has opened the door for Jorge Cestero to take centre stage during Real Madrid’s pre-season.

Pitarch had been expected to act as the extra midfield option while several senior players remained away following the World Cup.

However, after suffering an injury that will keep him out throughout pre-season and into the opening weeks of the campaign, that role has now fallen to the 20-year-old Castilla midfielder, reports AS.

Mourinho wants a defensive midfielder

Cestero offers a different profile from many of Real Madrid’s other young midfielders. A natural holding midfielder, the young prospect is a classic No. 6 capable of shielding the defence and controlling possession from deep.

Jorge Cestero has a big chance to impress. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

With Eduardo Camavinga’s situation still uncertain and Dani Ceballos no longer part of the squad, Mourinho has included him among the 15 academy players training with the first team while the World Cup internationals gradually return.

The Portuguese coach already knows Cestero is one of the academy players most familiar with the demands of the senior environment.

Cestero has steadily climbed through the ranks over the past year. He made five appearances under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, including his senior debut in the Copa del Rey against Talavera and a UEFA Champions League match against Benfica in Lisbon.

During a difficult period for the team, both coaches turned to him as one of the most dependable performers coming through La Fabrica.

Cestero is rated highly by Real Madrid. (Picture credit: Real Madrid Official Website)

He also played an important role in the Juvenil A squad that won their second UEFA Youth League title.

A chance to impress

Real Madrid see Cestero as one of the players capable of leading Castilla into the 2026-27 season given the imminent departure of several established academy figures, including Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel.

Now, however, he has an even bigger opportunity.

With Aurelien Tchouameni not expected to return until later in August, Cestero has the chance to compete directly with Camavinga during pre-season and show Mourinho that he can contribute at first-team level.

For the young midfielder, it is the biggest audition of his career.