Following Robert Lewandowski’s departure last weekend, Barcelona is set to bid farewell to two members of their coaching staff this Saturday. After a period of uncertainty, it appears Thiago Alcantara will be leaving the club this summer.
The 35-year-old joined Hansi Flick’s coaching staff at the beginning of Flick’s first preseason, tasked with facilitating the transition for the new manager and serving as a translator. However, he temporarily returned to England for tax reasons before Barcelona’s opening game of the season. Last summer, he officially rejoined the coaching staff, playing a crucial role in mentoring players and instilling Flick’s tactical principles.
Thiago Alcantara to Depart Barcelona Coaching Staff
It now seems that he will be leaving the club once again this summer. Thiago was observed receiving celebratory “bumps” from the Barcelona squad during their final training session of the season, and Flick has confirmed his impending departure.
Flick’s Tribute to Thiago: “He’s Amazing, I Will Miss Him”
When questioned about Thiago’s exit on Friday, prior to Barcelona’s final league match against Valencia, the German manager expressed his admiration for his former player, with whom he first connected at Bayern Munich.
“I informed the staff and players about my relationship with Thiago. When I was an assistant at Bayern and later became head coach, one of my initial tasks was to bench Thiago, and it wasn’t easy for either of us because he was a world-class player. I adjusted the playing philosophy slightly, but his attitude, mentality, and conduct were exceptional.”
“And that’s what I value about working with him. He possesses a top-tier attitude and is amazing. He has assisted me greatly here at Barca, and over the last two years, he has been incredible. We will miss him, but I understand he has his own plans, and that’s positive. I hope he can return someday because we need men like him in this profession.”
Further Potential Changes in Barcelona’s Coaching Staff
Thiago may not be the only member of Barcelona’s staff to depart this summer, as match analyst Dr. Stephan Nopp is also reportedly set to leave the club. There are also reports suggesting that Flick would like to recruit an additional fitness coach for the upcoming season to address the team’s injury concerns.
