Thiago Pitarch has made his choice between Spain and Morocco

Real Madrid midfielder Thiago Pitarch seems to have made up his mind about his international future. After weeks of buzz surrounding Morocco’s interest in recruiting him, the young star delivered a firm message that tilts the scales toward Spain.

“My dream? To debut with the senior national team and win titles,” he said in an interview with Spain’s official federation media, a statement that landed around mid‑afternoon Eastern Time.

Pitarch reinforced that commitment by highlighting what his recent call‑up to Spain’s U‑21 squad means for him.“If I’m here, it’s because I want to reach the top. Step by step,” said the Fuenlabrada native.

Morocco tried... Pitarch responded

Morocco has made several attempts to bring him into their national program, as he’s eligible through family roots. The latest push came from Bono — the former Sevilla goalkeeper now playing for Al Hilal and one of the leaders of Morocco’s national team.

Speaking in the mixed zone after Morocco’s match against Ecuador, Bono said the door would always be open:“We’ll welcome him with open arms. He has family here and in Spain. He’ll do what he truly feels.”

He added that any player with ties to Morocco is welcome — “especially if he plays for Real Madrid.”

First call-up

On being called up: “I’m really happy. I’m living a dream with both my club and the national team. I’ve been working toward this since the day I started playing. It’s my dream. I’ve fought for it every day — in training, in every match. And now it’s happening.”

On staying grounded: “I try not to overthink it. I’m taking it naturally. My family is very humble. We’re not letting it get to our heads. My friends are the ones who freak out a little more. They always support me and treat me like one of them.”

On his daily routine: “Training, going to class, then training again. That’s my life in my senior year of high school. I’m finishing my degree — it’s important to always have something to fall back on.”

On the attention he gets when joining the national team: “I’m not a big fan of it. It makes it seem like I’m the star, but I just want to be one more player. I don’t want more importance than any of my teammates.”

On fitting into the group: “They congratulated me right away. It’s a great group — lots of laughs, lots of jokes. You can see that chemistry on the field. I like being in a good mood, joking around, connecting with people I don’t see every day. I see the Real Madrid guys all the time, but I also enjoy bonding with the others. Those relationships are what stay with you for the future.”

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.