Thiago: I needed a change

Thiago Alcantara has completed his move to Bayern Munich and explained why he chose to leave Barcelona.

The 22-year-old passed a medical this afternoon and then put pen to paper on a four-contract to formalise a €25m transfer to the Bavarians.

“I’ve thought a lot, a lot. I have considered it a lot as last season was my last with Barca, ” Thiago told reporters at his presentation today.

“I made a decision in favour of Bayern. After the UEFA Under-21 Championship, Pep called me and I decided.

“It has not been an easy decision. Barca has been my home. I made the decision because I needed a change of scenery.”

For the midfielder, the opportunity to work once more with his former Coach at the Camp Nou was a major factor in his decision to accept the move.

“We all know who Guardiola is, the Coach he is, what it means to be a player for him, I haven’t known another Coach like him.

“From when we worked together at youth level at Barcelona, I could see that he was a different Coach, that he saw football in a different way.

“He was a very influential person in my career, he helped me a lot and was always very honest with me. I owe him a lot.”

Thiago turned his attention to his new club and how he feels to be a part of it.

“From the outside it looks like a huge club, but when you walk inside that is when you really see its greatness. They have a great history.

“In the world there are few teams that can compete at the level Barcelona and Bayern are at.

“It is not an easy change because I am coming from a team I have been at for a long time. But it is greatly compensated because Bayern are a big club.

One of Thiago’s first games for Bayern could be late July’s preseason game at the Allianz Arena against Barcelona.

“I’m ready. It will be a very nice game, because I will see my former teammates. But after all it is still football and we will have a great time.”

Tags Bayern Guardiola Thiago
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