Thiago Alcantara is experiencing the 2023/24 pre-season like a crossroads. With a contract with Liverpool until June 2024, the Spanish-Brazilian is looking for an alternative to restart his career, preferably in La Liga, although he has also received offers from Arab football and the Turkish Super League.
At 32, Thiago seriously believes the best option for him is to close his stage at Anfield. Manager Jurgen Klopp has reinforced midfield with Dominic Soborlai (from RB Leipzig, €70m) and Alex McAllister (Brighton, €42m).
And they add to the indispensable Trent Alexander-Arnold to the edge of the young Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott And Stefan Baycetic. Those additions and his injury problems leave the Spanish midfielder with very few opportunities to play next season.
Klopp appreciates Thiago’s quality and sees him as a resource when he is in full fitness for tough Premier League matches. But the reality is that in 2022/23, the Spanish-Brazilian midfielder played in 28 of Liverpool’s 52 games, 23 of them as a starter.
Due to hip injuries, the problem led to surgery that left him in drydock for the final stretch of last season. The Reds didn’t sit with him to extend his contract.
No options in Barça
The departure of Sergio Busquets from Barca opened a glimmer of hope for Thiago, as he thought his dream of returning to what was his home could finally come true.. However, the blaugrana chose another ex from La Masia, Oriol Romeu, and left the eldest from Alcantara with no options.
With an enviable track record (32 big club titles and 2 UEFA Under-21s with Spain) gained from his spells with Barça (2008-13), Bayern Munich (2013-20) and Liverpool (since 2020), Thiago wants to continue to contribute to elite football with his vision, his class and his technique.
- 2 Club World Cups (Barca and Bayern)
- 2 European Super Cups (Bars and Bayern)
- 2 champions (Barca and Bayern)
- 7 Bundesliga (Bayern)
- 4 leagues (Barca)
- 4th place (“Bayern”)
- 2 King’s Cups (Barca)
- 1FA Cup (Liverpool)
- 1 League Cup (Liverpool)
- 3 German Supercups (Bayern)
- 3 Spanish Super Cups (Barca
- 1 FA Super Cup (Liverpool)
For now remained deaf to the songs of the sirens of Saudi Arabia and keeps the interest that he arouses in Turkish Galatasaray “on standby”. He would like to see the options used by Real Sociedad, Celta or Sevilla materialize while he continues his physical recovery. Undoubtedly, for La Liga, this would mean the restoration of an extremely talented footballer who, when he managed to play, earned conductor’s stripes in his team and shone in the national team. Thiago Alcantara is fighting to bring back his best version.