Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool agree deal with Bayern Munich for Spain midfielder
Written by News on 17/09/2020
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Bayern Munich for Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
The Premier League club will pay £20m across Thiago’s four-year contract, with the potential for £5m in add-ons, and the midfielder will wear the No 6 jersey.
It had initially looked like any deal would be dependent on the future of Georginio Wijnaldum, who is also in the final year of his Anfield contract, but Liverpool have decided to make their move now.
Thiago helped Bayern win the treble last season, as they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final last month in Lisbon.
Bayern boss Hansi Flick paid tribute to Thiago on Thursday and revealed he had said his goodbyes to players and staff at the club.
“Thiago is an exceptional player who spent seven hugely successful years here,” Flick said. “He’s a wonderful person and an outstanding professional. It was very emotional today when he said goodbye to us all.”
In July Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed Thiago had told the club he wanted a new challenge.
Rummenigge admitted talks between the player and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic over a new deal had broken down as he wished to leave Germany and said the club would accept a “reasonable price” for him.
The Spain international started his career at Barcelona and was handed his debut for the Catalan side by Pep Guardiola in 2009 at the age of 18.
He was an unused substitute as Barca beat Manchester United in the Champions League final the following season.
Thiago joined up with Guardiola again in 2013 when the new Bayern boss took him to Bavaria where he went on to win seven Bundesliga titles and four DFB-Pokal cups.
Robertson: Thiago a world-class player
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson said “until something is signed on the dotted line” he is not paying too much attention to the expected move of Thiago, but said the Spaniard is “full of talent” and would be a welcome addition to any team.
“I’ve watched him, he’s a fantastic player – a player full of talent,” Robertson told Sky Sports News.
“He would add to the quality of a squad in probably any team in the world, so if we get him, great, if we don’t then it is what it is. We’ll wait and see until it’s definitely confirmed.
“[Bayern Munich’s] quality is there to be seen; we watched their Champions League final when we were away at pre-season, and they’ve got world-class players in every position pretty much, and he’s definitely one of them.
“Look, [they are] a team full of quality and he’s played at the highest level so fair play if we are linked with him.”
‘Thiago deal a no-brainer for Liverpool’
Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O’Connor:
“Liverpool’s stance throughout the summer was that they would not be signing Thiago Alcantara – that changed a little a couple of weeks ago when the suggestion was they would only try to sign him if someone was leaving but they did not believe that was going to happen.
“Now Liverpool have decided to go ahead regardless of that and they think Thiago is the man for them.
“Jurgen Klopp had also been consistent throughout the summer – Liverpool would not be doing business unless a really good opportunity presented itself and a deal was there to be done.
“This is a deal that Liverpool could not turn down.
“At 29 Thiago does not necessarily fit the FSG model of buying players young, coaching them and increasing their ability and value, but the out-and-out quality of Thiago, combined with his experience of performing on the biggest stage meant this particular move was a no-brainer.
“He is a player for the here and now, untested in the Premier League but someone who is used to performing on the biggest stage for Barcelona, Bayern and Spain.
“The signing should also help to solve an issue that Liverpool have recognised recently – Trent Alexander Arnold alluded to it in an interview a couple of weeks ago – the game plan needs to change.
“It has been in the back of Liverpool’s minds to change the dynamic in midfield. It is not a case of things going stale but they are keen to give the opposition something else to think about now. Liverpool have been playing the same way for a couple of years and Thiago brings them something completely different.
“The signing of Bayern Munich’s treble-winning midfielder renews that competition for places and says to the other players in that position they have to raise their game again.
“Klopp knew Leeds would present a real challenge and something different on the opening day of the Premier League season and the signing of this type of midfielder allows Liverpool to change things a little themselves and catch other teams out.
“They have now decided to move from a position of strength to freshen things up and give other teams something new to think about.”
Carra: Thiago brings something different
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:
“Liverpool have got five or six midfield players – they rotate well because they need energy in that position – but a lot of the players are pretty similar.
“Thiago would be something different – less in energy but more technical – and I think he would be a really good addition.
“Liverpool are world class at the top end of the pitch, world class in terms of their defence and goalkeeper; I think they’re top class in midfield.
“Something could be added technically and Thiago fits the bill, so fingers crossed he comes.”
Analysis: How Thiago could transform Liverpool
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate:
The commentator was just saying how comfortable Paris Saint-Germain were looking when it happened. “They are quite happy for Bayern to have the ball in their half,” he said. But it was at that precise moment that Thiago Alcantara weaved his magic, firing a crisp pass between the lines.
The ball was in the back of the net seconds later. The goal was enough to win the 2020 Champions League for Bayern Munich and while scorer Kingsley Coman was the official man of the match, the role of Thiago in the team’s triumph escaped absolutely no one.
At 29 and reluctant to sign a new contract, Bayern realised they might have to sell. Liverpool are now ready to pounce and it is easy to see why the move might appeal. Jurgen Klopp’s side can do almost anything. But they cannot do what Thiago can do…
Read the full feature on what Thiago would offer Liverpool here
Analysis: A staggering CV and pedigree
Sky Sports’ Adam Smith:
His CV tells the story. At 29 years old, Thiago has racked up 11 league titles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Since his league debut, he has only ever missed out on the domestic crown once – back in 2011/12.
If that was not enough, what else interests Jurgen Klopp? The reduced fee from his dwindling contract is undoubtedly attractive – but so too are his strengths. In particular, his ability to press opponents.
Only Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold reclaimed possession in the middle third more than Thiago in the Bundesliga last season – and he played 1,055 minutes more than the Spain international.
The Bayern midfielder would also offer an improved dimension to Liverpool’s existing midfield tranche: the ability to run with the ball. His frequency of completed dribbles is outstanding, given the fact he patrols central areas of the pitch.
In addition, the 29-year-old retains possession, despite his forward-thinking drive and above-average number of passes attempted – clocking a passing accuracy of 90.5 per cent, which ranks 21st in the league.
Thiago provides unrivalled pedigree, with 12 years’ experience at powerhouse clubs and nine with Spain, while fitting the mould for a midfielder under Klopp.
Summer transfer window – key dates and times
The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5.
A domestic-only window for trades between the Premier League and EFL then runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5pm. Follow all the news and analysis on Sky Sports News and across Sky Sports‘ digital platforms, including with our dedicated Transfer Centre blog.
(c) Sky Sports 2020: Thiago Alcantara: Liverpool agree deal with Bayern Munich for Spain midfielder
