Real Madrid turned down Lille approach for Thiago Pitarch | OneFootball

Real Madrid are reported to have turned down an approach from LOSC Lille for Thiago Pitarch (19), according to The Athletic.

The midfielder, who recently signed an “improved contract”, has been identified by the Dogues’ management and their new manager Davide Ancelotti as a potential replacement for Ayyoub Bouaddi (18), who is set to join Manchester City in a transfer estimated at €100m. Real Madrid, for their part, are said to be counting on their young player and have no intention of letting him go.

At 19, the Fuenlabrada-born player broke into the first team last season, making 16 appearances (with two assists) for the Merengue’s first team. Against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, Pitarch even became, at 18 years and 247 days, the youngest player in the club’s history to feature in a match at that stage of the competition.

This summer, he was part of the Spanish Under-19s’ successful campaign at the European Championship, providing five assists and featuring in every one of the five matches played by the side led by Paco Gallardo.

GFFN | Léo Aschi