Former Barcelona midfielder, Thiago Alcantara, has already received inquiries about returning to football less than a day after announcing his retirement.
Thiago Alcantara has made a surprising decision to retire from professional football at just 33 years old, following his release from Liverpool after a season marred by injury, which limited him to just one appearance in 2023/24.
Speculation about Thiago’s retirement surfaced on Sunday, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
In an Instagram statement, Thiago expressed gratitude for his career, saying, “I will always be willing to give back what I have been given and I am grateful for the time, I have enjoyed it. Thank you, football and to all who accompanied me and made me a better player and person along the way. See you soon, Thiago.”
Thiago, who began his career at Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy and spent seven successful years at Bayern Munich, is now rumored to return to Barcelona.
According to reports from Spain’s Jijantes, talks are underway for him to join Hansi Flick’s coaching staff at Camp Nou.
Flick has already assembled a team of trusted assistants but sees Thiago as a valuable addition due to their previous collaboration at Bayern, where Thiago played a crucial role in the 2019/20 Champions League-winning season.
His departure from Barcelona in 2013 surprised many after making 81 appearances in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, opting to join Bayern Munich to reunite with Pep Guardiola.
Despite initial interest from Manchester United, Thiago chose Bayern, where he flourished before moving to Liverpool in 2020 for £25 million.
Thiago’s tenure at Anfield, like much of his career, was plagued by injuries, limiting his impact on the pitch.
His retirement announcement hinted at future involvement in football, suggesting fans won’t have to wait long to learn of his next chapter.
