Thiago Alcantara reveals key reason behind Liverpool transfer
Thiago Alcantara has revealed that the 'family' feel around Liverpool was a key factor in his decision to join the club.
The 29-year-old has called time on a lengthy and successful stay at Bayern Munich in order to join up with the Premier League champions this summer.
Hansi Flick was keen to keep hold of a player who played a key role in a Champions League success secured with victory over Paris Saint-Germain only last month.
But Thiago has explained that a desire to pick up new silverware and the positive environment offered at Melwood were behind his desire to move on.
“I think it’s an amazing feeling. I was waiting for this moment for a long time and I am very, very happy to be here,” he told the club’s official website.
“When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more. I think this club describes what I am as well; I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.
“It also [has] this kind of family [feeling] that I need because we [like to] have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well.”
The Spain international promised to give his all as he looks to quickly find his place in a team that ended a 30-year wait for the title last term.
“I must adapt to the team as fast as I can in the situation and the context that we are living right now,” he added.
“Everything is more compact and we started a little bit later, but still it is football and I think we have to mix all the big things up, all the good things we have. I will help the team in a defensive and offensive [way] and also in a mental aspect.
“[The fans] are not more excited than I am, for sure not! It is not about saying words, it is about doing the things. I will give my heart on the field to my teammates, the club and also to the fans.”
It was thought that Thiago received his first taste of the Anfield atmosphere when he visited with Bayern in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2019.
However, the midfielder has now revealed that he previously entered the ground to watch his father contest a UEFA Cup tie with Celta Vigo almost 22 years ago.
“Well, it was my second time here. But the first time I was here when I was five or six years old, I think,” he continued.
“My dad played against Liverpool with Celta Vigo. I think it was, at that time, it was the UEFA Cup.
“My second time was a draw here; we didn’t plan to defend as much as we defended because we hated just to defend a whole game, but they were stronger than us and we had to adapt. The second game was amazing [to play here].
“I was never a fan of many clubs, I was just a fan of football. But I was surprised with the people here, how they live football and it was really a shock for me.”
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