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Real Madrid blocks Thiago Pitarch transfer, Lille turns to Zechiël

As Lille prepares to pocket €100M for Ayyoub Bouaddi, LOSC has suffered a rejection from Real Madrid for 19-year-old Thiago Pitarch and is now exploring the Gjivai Zechiël (Feyenoord) option.

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Real Madrid blocks Thiago Pitarch transfer, Lille turns to Zechiël
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Real Madrid has refused to let Thiago Pitarch leave for Lille, forcing LOSC to rethink its recruitment plans in this final week of the transfer window.

According to The Athletic, the Madrid club is firmly opposed to selling its 19-year-old midfielder, whom José Mourinho considers a key part of his project. The Real Madrid manager is said to have personally told the board that he is counting on the young Spaniard, ending Lille’s hopes of recruiting the player who was tipped as Ayyoub Bouaddi’s successor.

The Pitarch option made even more sense given that Lille is going through a period of major upheaval. The record sale of Bouaddi to Manchester City, valued at €100 million, as well as the potential departure of Matias Fernandez-Pardo, will leave two gaping holes in Paulo Fonseca’s squad. Pitarch, who made 16 appearances with Real Madrid’s first team last season — including matches against FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Atlético Madrid — with two assists, matched the profile being sought.

Faced with this rejection, LOSC immediately turned to other targets. According to Foot Mercato, Gjivai Zechiël, a 22-year-old Dutch Under-21 international midfielder at Feyenoord Rotterdam, is among the profiles being studied. An offer is expected to be submitted in the coming days.

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