[ad_1]
Liverpool fans have been told that they have signed an “absolute superstar” in Thiago Alcantara.
So how good is the 2019-20 treble winner, how does he stack up against Liverpool’s current midfield options? Will anyone have to leave Anfield now?
What kind of player is Thiago? How good is he?
Simply put, Thiago is one of the best midfielders in the world and one of the most successful.
He has won a major league title nine times in his 10 seasons (since he started playing enough games in one season to qualify for a medal), two with Barcelona and seven in a row with Bayern. He has also won the Champions League twice, once with each team.
“There are many reasons to get excited,” said German soccer journalist Raphael Honigstein. BBC Radio 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast.
“Liverpool fans should consider themselves very lucky because they are casting an absolute superstar who could probably play for any team in the world.
“Thiago is in the shape of his life. The way he played in the Champions League, combining that skill and elegance with retrieving balls. He makes it look effortless.”
Thiago also has a great international pedigree. Born in Italy, he plays for Spain, the country where he grew up, despite the fact that his father Mazinho (winner of the 1994 World Cup) and his brother Rafinha, both Brazil internationals, tried to persuade him to play for their country.
Perhaps the biggest compliment is that when his former Barça coach Pep Guardiola took over at Bayern Munich, he said: “I spoke to the club and I told them my concept and I told them why I love Thiago. He is the only one. player I want “. . It will be him or no one. “
How do you compare to Liverpool’s midfielders? How will it fit?
Thiago is a central midfielder, although he can play any role in that area. He is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, as a box-to-box player, or as a number 10 if necessary.
Last season he only managed three goals and did not give assists in the Bundesliga. He only played twice in the nine league games after the restart due to a groin injury, although he did appear in their victories in the final of the German Cup and the Champions League.
He completed more passes in the Bundesliga than any Liverpool player in the Premier League last season despite playing significantly fewer minutes than Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum.
His passing accuracy of 90.5% was only slightly surpassed by Wijnaldum (90.8%).
He had more recoveries (195) and made more interceptions (45) than any of Liverpool’s midfielders, although Henderson and Fabinho had more tackles.
Only Henderson created more chances (27-20), while Wijnaldum (15) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (10) had more shots on goal than Thiago’s nine.
Thiago led all Liverpool midfielders in dribbles attempted (85) and completed (71).
| Thiago | Fabinho | Henderson | Keita | Milner | Oxlade-Chamberlain | Wijnaldum | |
| Games | 24 | 28 | 30 | 18 | 22 | 30 | 37 |
| Opportunities created | twenty | 19 | 27 | fifteen | 10 | 17 | 18 |
| Shots | 18 | 12 | twenty | 12 | 12 | 40 | 36 |
| Successful passes | 1,626 | 1,373 | 1,568 | 602 | 650 | 583 | 1,476 |
| Interceptions | Four. Five | 3. 4 | 30 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 17 |
| Dribble completed | 71 | 9 | 17 | 2. 3 | 10 | 29 | 41 |
Honigstein said: “Add something to Liverpool’s midfield, they don’t have that skill set. The idea is to rotate a lot more.
“There will be so many games. This will be the shortest and craziest season ever, so rotating players will be brilliant for a team that plays with so much energy.”
Why are Bayern letting him go?
It may come as a surprise that Bayern Munich are letting go of a player who started and excelled in their Champions League final win over Paris St-Germain last month, for a relatively cheap fee.
But his contract would have expired next summer.
“Bayern are allowing this to happen, which is a bit negligent,” Honigstein said. “They tried to renew his contract late. Now he will come to Liverpool for a very small sum.
“Bayern didn’t have many options in the end. They didn’t want to exhaust his contract, he didn’t want to exhaust his contract.
“He was agitating for Liverpool and Bayern to make a decision. Bayern need to generate some money before they can spend again, such are the effects of the coronavirus.”
Does it mean that Wijnaldum will leave?
There have been reports that Liverpool’s 29-year-old Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum could leave this summer, with Barcelona interested.
James Pearce, Athletic’s Liverpool reporter, told 5 Live: “Until the last few days, the club’s position was that they would only reaffirm their interest in Thiago if they lost a midfielder and Wijnaldum was the obvious one.
“I don’t think it is inevitable that Wijnaldum leaves because since he returned from international service, word has spread and he wants to stay with Liverpool.”
