Thiago Alcantara joined Barcelona’s coaching staff this summer to gain experience in his first role since leaving Liverpool.
The former Spanish international will also accompany Barca coach Hansi Flick and the rest of the team on the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.
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Thiago was a free agent after his contract at Anfield expired at the end of the season and he retired from playing earlier this month.
The midfielder was unable to truly showcase his undisputed quality in the Premier League due to a series of injury problems during his four-year career at Liverpool.
The La Liga giants are reportedly looking for someone who speaks Spanish and German to help new boss Flick settle in at the Nou Camp when he takes over as Xavi’s successor.
Thiago, 33, is the perfect candidate having worked with Flick during his time at Bayern Munich and rising through the ranks at FC Barcelona as a young player.
It is claimed that he would act as a “direct link” between the coach and the players to facilitate the transition period between the two coaches. In addition, he would work as a translator.
This was the role Jose Mourinho held under Bobby Robson at Sporting Lisbon before becoming the great English coach’s assistant at Porto and then at Barcelona before becoming full-time manager.
Barca’s sporting director Deco is reportedly looking for a player in the late stages of his career for the position; two other experienced stars are in the running.
Marc Bartra and Javi Martinez are the other names on the list. The aim is for them to play a fundamental role in the coexistence in the dressing room.
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The 33-year-old Bartra is also a former FC Barcelona player and speaks German due to his time at Borussia Dortmund.
He is currently playing for Real Betis for the second time, where he returned in 2023 after a season with Turkish club Trabzonspor. However, due to a long-term tendon injury, he has only been able to play four times since returning to the Spanish team.
Unlike Thiago and Bartra, Martinez did not play for Barça in his career, but spent nine years at Bayern Munich, where he was coached by Flick.
Martinez is currently playing 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 Barça at the age of 14 and made his first-team debut in 2009. He played 100 games for them, scoring 11 goals and providing 22 assists.