Barcelona is excited to welcome the departing Liverpool player Hansi Flick back in a new capacity.
Thiago Alcantara, a released midfield player for Liverpool, is reportedly being pursued by Barcelona because he fulfills two essential requirements for the team in the event that Hansi Flick, a former manager of Bayern Munich, is named as the club’s next manager. Barcelona is looking for seasoned players who can communicate with Flick in both Spanish and German by acting as a link to the team. For this crucial team position, Thiago will have to contend with players outside of his preferred position, as long-time Bayern Munich hardman Javi Martínez and former Barcelona center-back Marc Bartra are also seen to be capable of performing this duty.
As per reports from Spain, the designated player would be groomed to assume the role of technical secretary to the club’s Sporting Director, Deco.
This player would be expected to integrate into the squad initially, contributing to the maintenance of a cohesive dressing room atmosphere, initially as a squad member before transitioning into a non-playing capacity.
Thiago Alcantara has emerged as a potential candidate for this role, given his strong rapport with Flick from their time together at Bayern Munich. However, Thiago’s reluctance to retire from playing in the near future, despite his proficiency in Spanish, German, and Italian, poses a potential obstacle.
Having concluded his four-year deal with Liverpool, Thiago intends to continue his playing career with Girona in LaLiga, though interest from two Premier League clubs remains.
Thiago faces competition for the squad role from players such as former Barcelona center-back Marc Bartra and longtime Bayern Munich stalwart Javi Martínez, both of whom are capable of fulfilling the responsibilities.
Barcelona’s pursuit of veteran players who can bridge the linguistic and cultural gap between Spanish and German aligns with their aspirations under potential manager Hansi Flick.
Alternatively, players like Bartra and Martínez, both in their thirties, may also vie for the role, albeit with differing degrees of experience and ties to Barcelona’s academy system.
Ivan Rakitic, another former Barcelona midfielder currently playing in Saudi Arabia, is also speculated to be interested in a technical role, further adding to the club’s options for potential recruits.