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| Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at Emirates Stadium on February 04, 2024 in London, England. |
Thiago Alcantara has joined Barcelona’s coaching staff this summer to gain experience in his first role since his exit from Liverpool.
The former Spain international will be with Barca manager Hansi Flick and the rest of the squad on the club’s pre-season tour in the United States, too.
Thiago was a free agent after his contract at Anfield expired at the end of the season and he called time on his playing career earlier this month.
The midfielder was unable to really show his undoubted quality in the Premier League due to a string of injury problems over his four-year Liverpool caree
The La Liga giants were reported to be searching for someone who can speak Spanish and German to help new boss Flick settle into life at the Nou Camp when he begins work as successor to Xavi.
33-year-old Thiago is the perfect candidate, having worked with Flick during his spell at Bayern Munich and coming through Barcelona as a youngster.
It is claimed he would act as a ‘direct link’ between the coach and the players to help soften the period of transition between the two coaches, as well as work as a translator.
It was a role Jose Mourinho had under Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon, before becoming the great English manager’s assistant at Porto and then at Barcelona before stepping up into full-time management.
Barca’s sporting director Deco was said to be looking for a player in the twilight of their career to fill the role, with two other veteran stars in contention.
Marc Bartra and Javi Martinez are the other names on the list, with the objective being ‘for them to be fundamental in coexistence in the locker room’.
Bartra, 33, is also a former Barcelona player and knows German following his spell at Borussia Dortmund.
He is currently in a second spell with Real Betis, where he returned in 2023 after a one-season stint with Turkish club Trabzonspor, but a long-standing tendon problem has restricted him to just four appearances since his move back to the Spanish side.
Unlike Thiago and Bartra, Martinez has not played for Barca in his career, but he did spend nine years at Bayern Munich where he was coached by Flick.
Martinez is currently plying his trade in the Middle East with Qatar SC, where he moved in 2021, but at 35 he is closer to retirement than the other two.
Thiago joined Barca at age 14 and made his first team debut in 2009. He played 100 games for them, scoring 11 goals and grabbing 22 assists.
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