Thiago now ‘very close' to joining Barcelona after leaving Liverpool

One of Liverpool’s summer exits is now ‘very close’ to signing with a Champions League rival for the upcoming season.

Thiago was always leaving Liverpool this summer but few predicted he'd call it a day as a player. The Spaniard retired as a professional following his Anfield exit, bringing an end to a 16-year career.

It was a shock, but also a move that made a lot of sense. Thiago struggled badly with injuries across his final two years, with this previous season having been a disaster for the midfielder.

Injury prevented any appearances until February - a 284 absence. To make matters even worse, Thiago then picked up another injury on that return,  despite playing just 13 total minutes.

That new injury was enough to rule him out for the rest of the season. Ultimately, it brought an end to his career.

It's now increasingly clear what's next for Thiago, though. And that's a return to his first club.

Thiago on the brink of Barcelona move

Thiago is now expected to join up with Barcelona again. Mundo Deportivo reports that he's 'very close' to becoming a coach there, 11 years after leaving for Bayern Munich.

It's a very sensible move, too. Hansi Flick is the new manager there, a manager Thiago thrived under when winning the Treble in 2020. The Spaniard was arguably the best player in that Bayern side and now he links back up with his former boss.

Flick, of course, doesn't know Barcelona particularly well. Thiago certainly does, though, and the suggestion here is that while it may only be a temporary role for the 33-year-old, it's an important one for Flick as he settles in.

So with that, Thiago enters the world of coaching and who knows? Perhaps this is how we see him back at Anfield down the line.