Ahead of the upcoming La Liga season, a recent meeting was held between Barcelona gaffer Ernesto Valverde and club director Eric Abidal. In a move to strengthen the squad, both came up with strategies and identified players who could add value to the club.
One of the key elements that both Valverde and Abidal agreed to was adding quality to the central midfield position. Interestingly enough, the club have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who is on the radar of Champion League winners Real Madrid as well.
Presently in Russia, Alcantara would be keenly watched by the Spanish giants. Thiago is one of those players who is experienced enough but continues to be hungry for success.
The Bundesliga outfit must rebuild their squad with new manager Niko Kovac at the helm and they should be open to the prospect of selling Thiago. Now, let us take as to why the player will be an explosive midfielder for any club he joins.
Thiago Alcantara: Version 2.0
Alcantara signed for the Barcelona youth side in 2005 as a 14-year-old. He went on to represent their youth team for three years, before being handed his first-team debut at the age of 18 in a match against RCD Mallorca, where he came in as a substitute for Eiour Guojohnsen.
However, he had to wait for almost a year to score his first goal for the Catalan club. He also played for the Barcelona B team (2008-11) where he scored three goals in 59 games. The 2009-10 season turned out to be a path-breaking one for Thiago, as he scored three goals in just 17 games. Not to forget, he was also a part of the team that won the Champions League title in 2011.
In the following season, he failed to reach his true potential due to a lack of game time. But with a star-studded midfield department consisting the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, one cannot blame Barcelona. Eventually, the player was sold to Bayern Munich.
Five years down the line, Thiago is an updated version of himself. Regardless of which club he joins, the Bayern star will work wonders. He has a lot to prove in the La Liga and it remains to be seen if he does that from Camp Nou or Santiago Bernabeu.
Making a name for himself at Bayern Munich
His departure from Barcelona helped Alcantara establish a legacy for himself at Bayern Munich. Thiago became an instant fan-favourite at Bayern. He netted his first goal for the club in the final of the 2013 Club World Cup against Moroccan side Rabat Casablanca, helping them win 2-0. Since then, there has been no looking back for Thiago.
He has eight trophies under his belt, which includes five Bundesliga titles. Having played nearly a 100 games for the club, he has already registered his name in the list of Bayern legends.
A player with international experience
No matter how talented a player is, the opportunity to represent one’s country at an international arena is still a dream for many. Luckily, Alcantara is fortunate to have represented the Spain senior team since 2011, starring in as many as 30 games.
With his improvement over the years, he has not only for Bayern but for his country as well. Currently in Russia with the Spain squad, Alcantara’s stock will definitely increase if he manages to add another feather to his cap by lifting the World Cup.
