Liverpool midfielder ‘more than keen’ to join Barcelona and play under Xavi – report

In a major development, Sacha Tavolieri is reporting that there is a concrete possibility that Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara could return to his boyhood club Barcelona this summer.

Reports of Barça being interested in re-signing their former midfield prodigy surfaced on Wednesday.

Thiago has only a year left on his contract at Liverpool and could be staring at a reduced role next season following the arrivals of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. As such, Barcelona are keeping a close watch on his situation.

The La Liga champions are very much aware of the qualities that Thiago would bring to the table while his ability to play anywhere in the middle of the park is also an appealing aspect for Xavi Hernandez & co.

Now, Tavolieri is reporting that sources within Liverpool believe that there is a strong possibility that the Spanish midfielder could make his way back to Barcelona this summer.

There has been no movement on this front yet, but Thiago’s main option would be a move back to his boyhood club, with the 32-year-old said to be ‘more than keen’ on returning to Barcelona and playing under his former mentor, Xavi.

Thiago joined Barça’s La Masia youth setup in 2005 and went on to spend eight years at the club before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2013.

The midfielder made 100 first-team appearances for the Blaugrana and had been tipped as the long-term heir to Xavi. However, the lack of a starting spot in the lineup and the possibility of reuniting with Pep Guardiola at Bayern compelled him to leave.

Now, ten years later after his departure, the Spaniard might end up securing a return to Barcelona, although much will depend on the club’s Financial Fair Play situation and their pursuit of other midfield targets like Bernardo Silva and Giovani Lo Celso.