Thiago Alcantara
Thiago Alcântara do Nascimento, known simply as Thiago, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the Spanish national team. Born in Italy to Brazilian parents, his father being former footballer and World Cup champion Mazinho, Thiago joined Barcelona aged 14, and made his first team debut in 2009. After winning honours including four La Liga titles, the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup for Barcelona, he was signed by Bayern for €25 million in 2013. At Bayern, he has won eight trophies, including the Bundesliga in each of his first five seasons. After helping Spain to European Championships at under-19 and under-21 levels, he made his full international debut in 2011. He was part of the provisional squad for Spain in the 2014 World Cup but withdrew due to a knee injury. Thiago was selected for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Did you Know?
On 14 July 2013, Thiago signed a four-year deal with Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, for a €25 million fee. Bayern would pay €20 million to Barcelona directly with the remainder being covered by the proceeds of a friendly to be played between the two teams at some point in the following four years and by Thiago foregoing some money owed to him by Barcelona. The transfer came despite a new contract that Barcelona had given Thiago in 2011 which set his release clause at €90 million. Barcelona failed to fulfil clauses in the contract relating to the amount of playing time that Thiago received, and as a result the player’s buy-out clause dropped to €18m. Thiago made his Bayern debut in a 4–2 defeat to rivals Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 DFL-Supercup on 27 July. He made his debut in the Bundesliga in a 0–1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt on 11 August 2013.
“I spoke to the club about my concept and told them why I want Thiago. He is the only player I want. It’ll be him or no one” Pep Guardiola
Did you Know?
Thiago Alcantara was born in San Pietro Vernotico, Italy, when his father was playing for nearby U.S. Lecce. He is the son of the Brazilian former footballer and 1994 World Cup winner Mazinho (player for the Brazilian national team from 1989 to 1994). His mother, Valéria Alcântara, was a former volleyball player. His younger brother, Rafinha, plays for FC Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. Rodrigo, who also played for Spain, is a lifelong friend and not a cousin as has been erroneously reported. Thiago started at the lower levels of Flamengo in Brazil, and, at the age of five, moved to Spain with his father, and started playing with Galician team Ureca in Nigrán. He is a highly creative and technically gifted playmaker, with excellent dribbling skills and ball control, which allows him to operate effectively in a deep-seated playmaking role as a central midfielder, although he is also capable of playing in a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder. He has been noted for his accurate distribution of the ball, as he possesses great passing technique and vision, and maintained a 90.2% pass success rate throughout the 2016–17 Bundesliga season, higher than any other player in Germany.
