Barcelona have officially announced that Thiago Alcantara will conclude his stint as part of Hansi Flick’s coaching team this Friday.
This marks the end of a brief but impactful return to Catalonia for the former midfielder, who had previously left Liverpool after his contract expired and surprisingly retired from professional football at the age of 33.
Thiago took on a short-term role to assist his former Bayern Munich manager, Hansi Flick, in transitioning smoothly into the Barcelona setup.
Initially, it was anticipated that Thiago would remain with the team until September, but the club has confirmed his immediate departure.
In his place, the current manager of Barcelona’s Cadet A, Under-16, side, Arnau Blanco, will step up to join the senior coaching staff.
Blanco, who has been a part of Barcelona’s youth development system for 11 years, will assume the same responsibilities that Thiago held.
Barcelona expressed their confidence in Blanco’s abilities in a statement, “The Palau Solita i Plegamans coach, who has worked in the Blaugrana youth system for the last 11 seasons, will have the same functions as Thiago Alcantara. The Club thus continues to invest in the talent and excellent training of its professionals and technicians.”
Earlier in the summer, Flick had reportedly reached out to Thiago, seeking someone with a deep understanding of Barcelona’s philosophy and culture to help him acclimate to his new role at the club.
Though Thiago’s involvement was expected to last around three months, his tenure ended up being less than one. Despite the short duration, reports emphasize that his contribution was significant and successful.
It is speculated that Thiago will now take a break from football, with the possibility of returning later to pursue his coaching qualifications, having found fulfillment in his behind-the-scenes role at Camp Nou.
Barcelona are set to kick off their La Liga season on Saturday with an away match against Valencia, as Hansi Flick aims to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 loss to Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
