Mohamed Ouahbi has made his move. The Morocco coach travelled to Spain in late August, accompanied by FRMF scout Rabie Takassa, for an in-person meeting with Thiago Pitarch and his family. The trip, part of a wider European tour targeting dual-national prospects, marks Morocco’s most direct attempt yet to convince the Real Madrid midfielder to choose the Atlas Lions over Spain.
Pitarch, 17, currently plays for Spain U19 but remains eligible for Morocco through his grandfather, who is from Al Hoceima. Under FIFA rules, that option stays open until he plays a competitive senior match for Spain’s A team. Ouahbi’s visit is widely read as an attempt to secure a commitment before that door closes for good.
The Moroccan federation has reportedly framed the meeting around presenting a long-term project for dual-national talents, a pitch also used with other targeted players such as Bouaddi. Ouahbi has publicly described Pitarch’s case as still open, insisting the player deserves time before any final decision. This kind of pursuit reflects a broader institutional effort, with the FRMF’s dedicated scouting department tracking thousands of heritage players across Europe from as young as age eight.
Spain, however, holds a structural advantage. Pitarch has been fully integrated into “La Rojita,” featuring in Euro U19 qualifiers and the final against Germany. Spanish federation staff, including remarks attributed to Luis de la Fuente’s camp, have stated that Pitarch “wants to play for Spain.”
In March, the player himself suggested an initial preference for the Spain project, though by July he was conspicuously less committal, saying his senior international future remained “far away” and declining to rule out any scenario.
Media in Spain, France and Morocco have all described Pitarch as one of Real Madrid’s most promising young midfielders, underlining why both federations consider the case worth fighting for. Moroccan outlets have characterized Ouahbi’s trip as the federation “passing to the offensive,” or playing what several reports call a last card before Spain can lock Pitarch in at senior level.
No decision has been announced. For now, Pitarch continues training and playing with Spain’s youth setup, while Morocco’s federation appears determined to keep its option alive for as long as the regulations allow.
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