After deciding to leave Bracelona in search for regular first team football in the hope of participating in this summer’s World Cup, Thiago Alcantara’s dream has been shattered after he was ruled out due to injury. Thiago damaged his knee ligaments in March but was expected to return before the end of the season. He has experienced a setback in his recovery which will rule him out of the showpiece in Brazil.
Thiago moved to Bayern Munich last summer in a 22m deal after he was convinced by former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola to move to Germany. He has endured a successful season at the Allianz Arena making goals as well as scoring a few. He participated in 16 Bundesliga matches scoring two goals and providing 4 assists from midfield. Thiago had cemented a staring spot in a tough Bayern midfield despite fierce competition for places. He was seen as a great influence in the team as he seemed to have settled in quickly and his style suited Pep Guardiola’s ball possession philosophy.
This is a massive loss for Spain even though they have world class replacements for the former Barca man. Thiago is perhaps the most direct player of all the dictators at Spain’s disposal. Vicente del Bosque has been playing a much more direct game in recent times since the oppositions have been sitting deep to prevent any penetration of their defense. Thiago would fit perfectly in this new style but with his exclusion del Bosque may be looking at other options.
Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has stated in the Guardian that this setback is bitter for Thiago and he feels sorry for him. He however went on to say that the club will look after him as best as possible so that he will recover for the start of next season and be in the right frame of mind. Thiago now joins the likes of Kevin Strootman, Christian Benteke, Bryan Oviedo, Victor Valdes, Theo Walcott and Robbie Kruse to be ruled out of the World Cup due to injury while Radamel Falcao is still a doubt despite being named in Colombia’s provisional squad.
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