Emerging midfield maestro Thiago Alcantara was growing sick of being stuck behind legends Xavi and Iniesta in the Barcelona engine room.
After a strong showing at the European under-21 championships, where he led Spain to victory in the final, he wanted to gain a regular starting spot in top-level European club football.
Despite being encouraged to bide his time and eventually fill the void left by Xavi once the 33-year-old calls it quits, Thiago decided he had to move on.
English champions Manchester United immediately showed a strong interest in his signature, but could not close the deal.
While there may have been several reasons for United’s failure to land Thiago, one was almost certainly not a lack of playing time.
He would have competed for a starting midfield role at United with the likes of Michael Carrick, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley. All are quality players, but hardly in the same class as his Barcelona teammates.
Given his potential, he could have become a linchpin in the United midfield for years to come – a vital cog.
Instead, Thiago opted to join former coach Pep Guardiola and his already star-studded squad at Bayern Munich.
The Champions League winners reportedly paid up to $25 million for Thiago’s services, despite having earlier signed Mario Gotze from Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Apart from Gotze, he will now fight for a spot in midfield with the experienced Bastian Schweinsteiger, talented playmaker Toni Kroos, and defensive walls Javi Martinez and Luiz Gustavo.
Though he clearly has a greater chance of winning silverware at Bayern, surely his desire for regular football won’t be met in the face of such stiff competition initially.
However, Guardiola claimed last week that Thiago would get ample playing time as he could be utilised in a number of different positions.
“Nobody wants to leave Barca, but they do want game time,” he said.
“Thiago wants to play. That’s what we can offer. We have a lot of games and need to rotate the squad a lot. Thiago can play as a number 6, 8, 10, 11 and even a number 7.”
It remains to be seen if Thiago is as effective as an attacking utility man and whether Guardiola’s rotation policy keeps the player happy.
One thing is certain though, United and Barcelona are the real losers from this deal, while Bayern becomes even more formidable… if that’s possible!
Dave
Guest
Reports out of germany say that gustavo has been told he can leave if a good deal comes in. and ruomours are chelsea could be looking at him.
Dave
Guest
Im guessing he'll start something with either Ribery or Muller
AZ_RBB
Guest
Robben has been at this one club too long. all this stability doesn't feel right. he needs to get in a brawl with a team mate already and leave.
Dave
Guest
Schwensteiger (or the player in that position) hasbeen the only defensive mid with kroos and gotze attacking mids and muller and ribery out wide. Ribery has also been played in a more central role and in the last pre season game lahm was played as a holding mid. Obviously in competitive games things could be different Gustavo probably wont get too many starts but should get a fair amount of time off the bench. In saying that im still expecting either robben or gustavo to be gone either now or in the january window
AZ_RBB
Guest
i must say it seems weird to have 4 holding mids in a team where you play in that formation. i wonder what sort of impact Martinez playing CB will have on this Spanish NT prospects. i would assume not much but still......interesting stuff! really don't see how Gustavo will get many games at all this season. many at all meaning more than 20 starts. he too has Brazil NT prospects.
Dave
Guest
Others like Pizzaro, van Buyten, Rafina, Can, Hoberg will get time during squaf rotation with the bundesliga, german cup, champions league and club world cup to play Bayern have plenty of games ahead
Dave
Guest
Muller was ahead of Robben last year nothing will change this year. Pep has been using a 4-1-4-1 formation during pre season and when Thiago was being signed he said Martinez can play CB Based on that: Neuer Lahm-Martinez-Dante-Alaba Schweinsteiger Muller-Kroos-Gotze-Ribery Mandzukic Thiago, Shaqiri, Gustavo, Robben, Boateng, Kirchhoff and Starke on the bench
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I keep reading that Barca are interested in Mathieu Valbuena from Marseille. He isn't a bad player and I reckon would adapt ok at Barcelona as he has the right profile (small, technical, quick, vivacious). Plus he is a master at diving. Good fit.
AZ_RBB
Guest
would love to know what people's first XI would be if they were Pep. this is mine -----------Neuer-------- Alaba---Martinez- Dante--- Lahm ------Alcantara--- Schwienstiger--- Ribery---------------------------Robben ------------Gotze------------- -----------Mandzukic-------------- Bench Muller Gustavo Kroos Shaqiri Van Buyten Boateng Starke not sure what to do with the likes of Pizarro and Rafinha. also not sure how a lot of these players will feel about being "rotated" in a World Cup year.