Morocco have not given up hope of persuading Real Madrid midfielder Thiago Pitarch to represent them internationally, with coach Mohamed Ouahbi reportedly meeting the teenager and his family during a recent visit to Spain.
The 19-year-old is one of the most complicated dual-nationality cases currently being monitored by the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF). Pitarch was born in Spain and has represented La Roja at youth level, but he is also eligible to play for Morocco through his grandfather.
According to Moroccan newspaper Assabah, in a report relayed by Le360, Ouahbi travelled to Spain to meet Pitarch and his family. He was accompanied by Rabie Takassa, the FRMF’s scout based in Spain.
The reported meeting formed part of a wider European tour by the Morocco coach. Ouahbi also visited Germany, the Netherlands and France to watch several young players who could become future members of the Morocco national team, known as the Lions of the Atlas.
If the meeting took place, it would underline the fact that Morocco still considers Pitarch’s international future undecided.
The latest public indications had suggested the opposite. In March, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said Pitarch wanted to play for Spain.
“The information is that Thiago wants to play for Spain, and that is excellent news,” said De la Fuente, who explained that the midfielder’s intended pathway was to continue with Spain’s youth teams before potentially progressing to the Under-21 side and, eventually, the senior team.
Ouahbi adopted a more cautious stance at the time, refusing to put public pressure on the player.
“He is very young and everything has happened very quickly. He prefers to focus on his club [...] We must give young players time,” Ouahbi said.
Several months on, the Morocco coach appears ready to pursue the possibility until the final opportunity disappears.
The approach may also indicate a difference between Ouahbi’s policy on dual-nationality players and that of his predecessor, Walid Regragui. Regragui regularly stressed that footballers should have a deep desire to represent Morocco, while Ouahbi appears willing to invest more time in selected cases and meet players and their families in person.
That strategy has already been visible during his European tour, where he has sought out several promising young talents.
Pitarch’s position remains particularly difficult for Morocco to change. Spain have a clear advantage because the midfielder is already part of their youth-team structure, while his development is taking place within the Spanish system.
However, until Pitarch’s senior international future is permanently settled, Ouahbi appears determined to keep one final route to Morocco open.