Thiago Alcantara recalls difficult decision to leave FC Barcelona

Thiago Alcantara has been one of Bayern Munich’s most consistent performers over the start of this season. Dropping deep to man the pivot seems to have suited his game well and provided the squad with central stability for the most part.

In a recent interview with Spanish radio network, SER, Thiago spoke on the difficult decision he made to leave FC Barcelona in 2013 as captured by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio on website:

I have always wanted to play and since that wasn’t possible with Barça I had to leave to find the joy in playing football again. To me playing is more important than winning a trophy. In the end you always ask yourself, ‘To what extent I have contributed to the win?’

I will always be grateful to Barcelona, but I left because I didn’t want to be just one of the many. We, the players that were (working to make the first team), always had the dream to reach the first team and, once we get there, we want to play and know that we can become regulars.

When that’s not possible, it’s the moment you should leave. That’s what I did, leaving Barcelona was my decision. Returning to the Blaugrana? I am only focused on the current season, I am not thinking beyond that. The comparisons with Xavi and Iniesta? I never liked being compared to them, because they are incomparable.

With depth and talent causing some strife for Die Roten, it was interesting to hear how Thiago handled his own situation in trying to break into a lineup with so much talent. Just as Sebastian Rudy (Schalke) and Arturo Vidal (Barcelona - though that’s not going as expected) decided, the choice between championships and playing time is ultimately an easy one for the competitors on the pitch. How many Bayern players will start to adopt this attitude in the coming months?