Former Barcelona midfielder to announce shock retirement from professional football | OneFootball

At the end of last month, Thiago Alcantara officially left Liverpool upon the expiry of his contract. The 33-year-old had been linked with numerous clubs over the last few weeks, including Girona, but as it turns out, he has decided not to sign for anyone.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Thiago has decided to retire from professional football with immediate effect. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder has struggled majorly with injuries over the last few years, which had meant he rarely featured for Liverpool.

Thiago started his career in the infamous La Masia academy, and he would go on to make 101 appearances between 2009 and 2013, at which point he joined Pep Guardiola at Bayern. During this period, he was one of the best midfielders in world football. He spent seven years in Bavaria, before opting for Liverpool in 2020.

In recent weeks, Thiago had been linked with Barcelona – but as part of Hansi Flick’s coaching staff. Given that he is now retiring, a move like this could turn out to be a strong possibility.