Lille have begun preparing for the anticipated departure of Morocco's Ayoub Bouaddi to Manchester City, with the midfielder edging closer to a huge move to the English club. Their attempt to replace him with Real Madrid talent Thiago Pitarch, though, ran into a firm rejection from the Spanish club.
According to The Athletic, Lille went after Pitarch hoping to benefit from the strong ties between their coach Davide Ancelotti and Real Madrid. Ancelotti spent years working inside the Spanish club alongside his father Carlo. Those ties counted for little. Real's board had no intention of letting the young midfielder go.
The French side had been hunting for a replacement for Bouaddi, who is expected to join Manchester City for around 95 million euros, plus a further 5 million euros in incentives, on a contract running until 2031. That impending exit prompted Lille to draw up a list of names to fill the gap left by their Moroccan talent.
Pitarch, 19, is one of the players Real Madrid are banking heavily on for the future. He gradually worked his way into the first-team picture last season, and that progress convinced the club to knock back Lille's offer and keep him.
A new and improved contract followed recently, and Pitarch also wrote his name into the club's history books. At 18 years and 247 days, he became the youngest player ever to feature for Real Madrid in a Champions League quarter-final. He has made 16 first-team appearances so far, chipping in with two assists.
Winning the Under-19 European Championship with Spain only strengthened his standing. It confirmed once more that Real see him as one of their brightest hopes for the years ahead.
That determination to keep Pitarch comes with the club still searching for answers in midfield. The move for Rodri collapsed, and Los Blancos have yet to sign anyone to address the shortage in that position.