Real Madrid target U-20 Intercontinental with youth push

Real Madrid are preparing a very youth-heavy squad for the U-20 Intercontinental, with the final to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu. The match is set against Santiago Wanderers, the Chilean side who won the Copa Libertadores U-20.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the plan is to assemble the best players from the club’s academy who were born on or after January 1, 2006. Beyond the key figures from last season’s Youth League, Madrid also want to call up Sergio Martínez (recently signed from Racing Santander) and Thiago Pitarch.

Academy plan, Mourinho’s decision

The delicate part is that Thiago Pitarch—who has Champions League starting experience and is registered with the first-team—needs Jose Mourinho’s permission. As Mundo Deportivo notes, Mourinho has not yet given his consent, though the situation could change if injuries hit the senior squad this week.

A Europe-ready final

Mundo Deportivo places the rivalry in context: the U-20 Intercontinental has been contested since 2022 between the Youth League winners and the Libertadores U-20 champions. Madrid, the report adds, have been working on this fixture for weeks and even want to chase the attendance record previously set at the Maracanã (48,532), selling seats at €15 to €24 in an effort to fill the Bernabéu.

So the Sunday at the Bernabéu will have an extra layer for Madrid fans, but the final call—at least for Pitarch—hinges on Mourinho.