Former Barcelona star could be Hansi Flick’s free wildcard signing, with a catch – analysis

A week ago, Liverpool made it known that Thiago Alcantara would be leaving once his contract wraps up at the season’s close. 

Thiago, a former Barcelona midfielder, joined Liverpool in 2020 from Bayern Munich for about €20 million, but he has mostly been on the sidelines due to injuries, making only 98 appearances, including just one this season.

Now, Thiago’s departure from Liverpool might be good news for Barcelona, especially as they are in need of a midfielder. 

Even though the Spaniard is not exactly a mainstay player anymore, his experience and understanding of the game could be valuable next season under the leadership of Hansi Flick.

Speaking of Flick, who is expected to be Barcelona’s new coach next season, he has already worked with Thiago during their time at Bayern Munich. They even won a treble together in the 2019/20 season, during which he played 40 matches, scoring three goals. 

However, at 33 years of age, Thiago is not at his peak anymore, and signing him might seem attractive because he is a free agent, but it could bring some problems alongside the potential solutions he offers.

The catch: A record to worry about

Since joining Liverpool, Thiago has struggled with constant injuries. Just this year, he missed 23 matches due to a muscle injury, keeping him out of action for nearly 120 days. 

Thiago Alcantara played just one game for Liverpool this season. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

From April 2023 to February 2024, he missed a staggering 41 matches, totaling over 280 days out.

Overall, he has missed 130 matches for Liverpool due to various injuries, including issues with his hip, thigh, hamstring, knee, and calf.

Some might say the Premier League is physically demanding, but at 33, Thiago is not getting any younger or fitter and his physical condition is declining, making it risky for Barcelona to rely on him.

While signing Thiago as a free agent seems like a good deal, if he faces another injury-plagued season, it could cost Barcelona dearly. 

Now, back in 2020, signing him might have made sense considering his age and potential for improvement, but now, even with Flick, who knows how to get the best out of Thiago, it seems like more of a gamble than a smart move. 

In summary, Thiago Alcantara to Barcelona could end up hurting the Blaugrana rather than helping them.