Barcelona contact former Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder about joining coaching staff | OneFootball

Barcelona have been looking to fill out Hansi Flick’s coaching staff with people capable of making life easier for the former Germany coach. The latest name suggested would be a star addition.

After revamping their fitness department, Flick and Barcelona agreed to bring in under-19 Germany coach Heiko Westermann as someone who could speak both German and Spanish, helping to convey his ideas.

According to Jijantes, after his imminent retirement was announced on Sunday due to a chronic hip injury, Thiago Alcantara has been contacted by Barcelona to see if he would be interested in becoming part of Flick’s coaching staff. The former Liverpool midfielder would have crossed paths with Flick during their time at Bayern, with the current Blaugrana coach crossing over for a year with the 33-year-old in the 2019-20 season. Gerard Romero notes that an agreement could be found as swiftly as this week, with Barcelona beginning preseason on Wednesday.

Thiago has been often linked with a return to Barcelona as a player, he and his family are reportedly keen on a return to warmer climes in Catalonia, where the Hispano-Brazilian spent much of his childhood coming through La Masia. He certainly has knowledge of a more vertical German style under Flick and Jurgen Klopp, and the quintessential Barcelona style, coming through under Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, before joining Guardiola at Bayern.