Thiago Alcantara’s father has made clear that the player would still have left Barcelona this summer even if the club had changed Coach beforehand.
In the week that the 22-year-old completed a move to Bayern Munich, Barca saw their Coach Tito Vilanova forced to stand down due to ill health.
Gerardo Martino has come in as his replacement, but for Mazinho, would not have influenced Thiago’s mindset to leave the Camp Nou.
“It would not have changed anything,” the 1994 World Cup winner and former Brazilian international commented to La Xarxa in reference to his son.
“Thiago was clear that it was very difficult to play at Barca, he was looking to start because he wants to play football and at Barca it was impossible in their system to do so because in his position are the best in the world.
“Thiago aims to be at the World Cup in 2014 and the coaching change would not have changed anything.”
The midfielder is expected to start for his new club today against his former club when they meet in a preseason friendly at the Allianz Arena.
“He’s happy in Germany because what he likes is to play football. Thiago was clear that he wanted to leave Barca and they accepted the decision.
“For Thiago, the game against Barca [today] is very special.
“For him, there is nothing better than being with a trainer who bet on him right from the start. Guardiola has been important in the life of Thiago.
“He debuted under him at age 16 and Guardiola has had an important bearing on his decision to sign for Bayern.
“They are one of the best in the world. But Manchester United were very close, there were talks before the UEFA Under-21 Championship.
“Barca has been his life, they believed in him, they have never failed in anything. We are grateful to Barcelona for everything they have done for Thiago.”
