Flick confirms Thiago Alcântara exit

Hansi Flick said on May 22 that Thiago Alcântara will leave Barcelona’s coaching staff this summer, confirming a change in his backroom group after the club secured a second straight LaLiga title. Flick said he would miss the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder and thanked him for his work with the squad. Thiago, 35, had been part of Flick’s staff during the coach’s first preseason and later returned in an official role. The departure comes as Flick says he is already targeting a third consecutive league title with Barcelona next season. ### When did Flick confirm Thiago’s exit? Football España reported on May 22 that Flick confirmed Thiago would leave this summer and said, “I’ll miss him,” while thanking him for his contribution to the staff. The report said Thiago had become a key figure around the first team under Flick. (football-espana.net) Yahoo Sports, citing Barca Blaugranes, also reported on May 22 that Thiago had said goodbye in training and was leaving after the season for personal reasons. That report said the move followed another title-winning campaign for Barcelona. ### What had Thiago been doing on Flick’s staff? Thiago joined Flick’s orbit during the German coach’s first preseason at Barcelona, according to Football España. (football-espana.net) The report said he helped with the transition to Flick’s methods and also worked across languages as a translator before briefly returning to England for tax reasons. (sports.yahoo.com) Last summer, Football España said, Thiago returned as an official member of the coaching staff. The outlet described his role as including player mentoring and helping establish the principles of Flick’s system. ### Why does this matter for Flick now? Flick made the confirmation days after Barcelona wrapped up back-to-back league titles under his management. (football-espana.net) BeIN Sports reported on May 22 that Flick said he was “100%” motivated to lead Barcelona to a third straight LaLiga crown, a feat that would put him alongside Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff in club history. BeIN Sports said Flick has won two league titles in two seasons at Barcelona and has already signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until June 2028. The same report said he has also won one Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups in that span. (beinsports.com) ### Was Thiago’s role always straightforward? Thiago’s first spell around the staff was short-lived before he returned in a formal capacity, according to Football España. The outlet said he left before Barcelona’s first game of the season because of tax issues in England, then came back the following summer as an official staff member. (beinsports.com) That sequence made Thiago unusual inside Flick’s setup: he was both a former elite midfielder with Barcelona ties and, according to Football España, a practical link in training-ground communication and tactical implementation. ### What comes next for Barcelona? Barcelona’s immediate next fixture is the final LaLiga match of the season at Valencia on May 24, according to the social briefing provided for this story. (football-espana.net) After that, the club moves into offseason planning before preseason work begins later in the summer. Flick’s public target for 2026-27 is already set. BeIN Sports reported on May 22 that he wants a third straight league title, while Thiago’s exit leaves Barcelona to reshape part of the coaching staff before preseason preparations begin. (beinsports.com) (football-espana.net)