Transfer rumour · archive

Thiago Pitarch to LOSC Lille

This move fell through. Last report: Mario Cortegana, 23 August 2026.

Lille's interest in Thiago Pitarch has hit a wall. The Ligue 1 side approached Real Madrid over the 19-year-old midfielder, seen as the preferred target of Davide Ancelotti to replace Ayyoub Bouaddi, but Madrid turned them away. The timing tells the story: Pitarch signed an improved contract with Real Madrid this same week, tying him down until at least June 2027. With the deal that was floated somewhere between €16m and €23m, Lille are now looking elsewhere for that Bouaddi replacement. This comes from Mario Cortegana, a well-regarded reporter, carrying an exclusive tag and reporting for a benchmark outlet. He is a credible voice, so the account of a rejected approach should be taken seriously. That said, this is a single source rather than a story corroborated across several reliable names, so the detail rests on one report. The chance here is slim. Madrid have both rejected the approach and, more tellingly, handed Pitarch a fresh deal, which is the clearest signal a club can send that a player is not for sale. For this to revive, Lille would need to return with a fee large enough to change minds, and there is no hint Madrid want to sell at all. As things stand, it is a long shot. The money is not out of step with how Real Madrid do business. They sold to AC Milan for €23m in 2019, to Benfica for €20m in 2019, and to Juventus for €20m, all in the range being discussed for Pitarch. Watch for whether Lille firm up an alternative to Bouaddi, or table a fresh, higher bid. Either would tell us if this is truly dead.

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