According to latest reports in Spanish media, Lionel Messi has urged Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu to bring back their former midfielder Thiago Alcantara to Camp Nou. The Spaniard was associated with Barcelona since his teenage days and went on to make his first senior appearance in 2009. However, his first team opportunities were limited and he made a move to Bayern Munich in 2013.
Barcelona will have huge boots to fill after the departure of Andres Iniesta and it seems like they want their former player to replace him. The 27-year-old midfielder has been an important player for the German giants in the middle of the park and currently, he has a contract with the Bavarians up until 2021.
The La Liga holders secured the signing of Phillipe Coutinho in the January transfer window and he was being touted as a long-term replacement for Iniesta. However, he has been doing well in the left wing role which was available after Neymar’s departure. Ousmane Dembele’s inconsistent performances and injuries haven’t helped his cause and he has struggled in his first season at Camp Nou and there are reports that he might be sold after just one season but as of now, that seems like a far-fetched rumour.
Thiago will certainly be a good replacement for Iniesta as he has already been at the club and know how things work at Camp Nou. However, Barcelona might have to face competition with Real Madrid to sign him, as he is also a target for the Los Blancos.
The Spanish international is known for his technical ability on the ball and his distribution skills are top notch. He can play in a more advanced attacking midfield role but we often see him play a bit deeper as a deep-lying playmaker. He often gets more time on the ball that way and is able to dictate play from those positions.
The Blaugrana might have secured a double this season but their sheen was taken away by a disappointing loss against AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-finals and the loss against Levante on the final day of the season took away their invincibles crown in La Liga.
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Their rivals Real Madrid have gone on to win three European titles in a row and the onus will be on Barcelona to stop them from making it four. For that, they will need reinforcements in the summer especially after the departure of Iniesta. A player like Thiago will certainly be a good addition to the squad as he is used to the club’s culture and has all the abilities to succeed in his second stint at Barcelona.
