Why Did Thiago Leave Barcelona?

By Robert Palmer

Thiago Alcantara is a Spanish professional footballer who has played for some of the biggest football clubs in Europe. He started his career at Barcelona, where he was regarded as one of the most promising young talents in world football.

However, in 2013, Thiago left Barcelona to join German giants Bayern Munich. So, why did Thiago leave Barcelona?

Barcelona’s Midfield

Barcelona has always been known for its midfield excellence. The likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets formed one of the greatest midfield trios of all time. When Thiago came through the ranks at La Masia (Barcelona’s youth academy), he was seen as the heir to Xavi’s throne.

However, despite his undeniable talent, Thiago struggled to break into the first team on a regular basis. With Xavi and Iniesta still playing at their peak and Busquets establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, competition for places was fierce.

Bayern Munich’s Interest

In 2013, Bayern Munich came calling for Thiago. The German club had just won an unprecedented treble (Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal Cup and Champions League) under Jupp Heynckes and were looking to strengthen their squad even further.

Bayern’s new coach Pep Guardiola knew Thiago well from his time at Barcelona and saw him as the perfect addition to his new-look Bayern team. Guardiola wanted to implement a possession-based style of play similar to that used by Barcelona and believed that Thiago could be a key player in achieving this goal.

The Move

The move to Bayern Munich made sense for Thiago on many levels. He would be reunited with Guardiola, who had given him his first-team debut at Barcelona and knew how to get the best out of him. He would also be playing alongside some of the best players in the world, such as Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, and Philipp Lahm.

Thiago’s first season at Bayern was a success. He helped the team win the Bundesliga title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. However, his second season was plagued by injuries, and he missed almost half of the campaign.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Thiago left Barcelona to join Bayern Munich because he saw it as an opportunity to play under Pep Guardiola again and to challenge himself in a new environment. While he may have struggled with injuries at times during his time at Bayern, there is no denying that he has been a key player for them when fit.

Thiago has since moved on from Bayern Munich to join Liverpool FC where he is set to continue his successful career in football.