Liverpool supporters have seen some real legends depart their club over the past few years.
The ultimate obviously came this last May, when Jurgen Klopp finally said goodbye after almost a decade with the Reds.
Prior to Klopp leaving, numerous huge players had already left Anfield in the two or three years before. It was tough to say goodbye to Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and the rest.
Neither Mane nor Henderson got the send-offs they deserved as Liverpool legends, leaving for fees during the transfer window instead.
But although he perhaps does not hold the same legendary status within Liverpool, Thiago Alcantara was one who absolutely earned his standing ovation for Anfield at the end of last season.
Liverpool’s Spanish midfielder #06 Thiago Alcantara says goodbye to the fans after the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and …
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Thiago confirms he’s a Scouser
Although nobody inside Anfield knew it at the time, Thiago was actually waving goodbye to his playing career when he walked the guard of honour his Liverpool teammates had constructed for him in May.
Unable to shake off persistent injuries, the silky Spaniard retired at the age of 33. His final game a five-minute cameo in February’s 3-1 loss against Arsenal.
That was not befitting of a player of Thiago’s quality and class. We may not have seen enough of it over the years in a Liverpool shirt, but the No.6 will go down as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
What’s more, Thiago just seems like a thoroughly good bloke. Despite his status as a star of the game, the former Bayern Munich stalwart is as humble as they come.
It’s also obvious that although his time with the club was mixed, Thiago completely bought into being a Liverpool player over his four years with the Reds.
This has now been evidenced further in a little clip that will absolutely delight Reds supporters. Now a coach back at Barcelona, Thiago was spotted meeting up with AC Milan director Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the Italian club’s Instagram page.
As Ibrahimovic chatted with Robert Lewandowski, Thiago approaches. “He’s not English,” Zlatan says to Lewandowski as he gets a cuddle from the former Liverpool man.
“No, no. Scouser,” smiles Thiago.
Thiago proves love for Liverpool
Further into the clip, we also get an idea of what caused Thiago’s premature retirement from the game.
“How are you, good?” asks Ibrahimovic. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” says the midfielder. After Ibrahimovic then utters something inaudible, Thiago then responds with “my hip.”
It would seem that the veteran could never quite recover from surgery to his hip in summer of 2023.
Having been prevented from continuing his playing career elsewhere, it’s nice to see that Thiago has found a place at Barcelona. As a cerebral player with impeccable reading of the game, he should make an excellent coach.
And as he’s just proven beyond any kind of doubt, Thiago loves Liverpool. Some may not buy into the ‘Scouse not English’ mindset, but this is certainly an easy way to win fans on Merseyside.
Maybe we’ll see this Scouser back on the touchline at Anfield one day. Watch this space.
