Thiago Alcántara has officially returned to FC Barcelona, but this time not as a player, but as part of the coaching staff. The former Spanish footballer, who wore the blaugrana jersey between 2009 and 2013 and was trained at La Masia, started working this Thursday alongside Hansi Flick as a tactical assistant.
He will be responsible for preparing training sessions and providing his vision of the game, acquired at clubs like Bayern and Liverpool. Thiago knows Flick well; they worked together in Germany during the 2019-2020 season, when they won the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the Champions League in the final stage in Lisbon. At that time, Thiago was a key piece for Bayern and left a positive mark on the German coach.
Barcelona made the addition official with a statement: "Thiago Alcántara's first official day as a member of the coaching staff. He will collaborate on tactical aspects and in preparing training sessions, providing experience and vision of the game."
The focus: calm internal tensions
His arrival doesn't have only tactical purposes. Thiago will also have a less visible but equally important mission: to mediate in internal conflicts. The first challenge is the tension that has arisen between Fermín and Gavi.
The problem started during a training session in South Korea. Gavi, as always, gave his all in every play. However, a particularly hard tackle on Fermín surprised everyone; there was no fight, but there was tension.
Upon returning to Barcelona, the situation didn't improve. Gavi pushed Fermín on another occasion and he asked for an explanation. The locker room atmosphere became uncomfortable, and some teammates began to notice that the conflict could escalate.
Teammates' intervention
Araujo and Raphinha decided to intervene. They spoke with both and asked them to solve it simply: a hug. It was a symbolic gesture, but a necessary one. The tension decreased, although it didn't disappear completely.
This is where Thiago comes in; his experience and maturity can be decisive. As a former Barça player, he knows the pressure young players experience and understands the importance of keeping harmony. His role will be to guide Gavi and Fermín so they channel their intensity on the field without it affecting the group.
A first step toward stability
Barça faces a season with many changes and challenges. Having Thiago on the coaching staff not only brings tactical knowledge, but also an emotional reference. He knows how to deal with pressure and how to mediate between teammates.
If he manages to calm the minor frictions, his impact will be deeper than it seems. It's not just about soccer; it's about keeping a united locker room. In a team with so much quality and youth, that can make the difference between a complicated season and a successful one.
Thiago's mission begins with a simple gesture: fixing what no one has been able to. A hard tackle, a push, and a lot of intensity on the field. All of that now needs a guide who can turn tension into cooperation, and Thiago is ready to take on that challenge.