Liverpool enter the new Arne Slot era without the player Man City boss Pep Guardiola loves

When Liverpool announce their retained list at the end of each season, it’s always tinged with a little sadness.

While it’s obvious that some exits are guaranteed, it doesn’t get any easier to say goodbye to players who, through no fault of their own, have had to leave the club. One man who fits perfectly into this category is Thiago Alcantara.

The Spaniard arrived from Bayern Munich in 2020 but would make just 98 appearances for the club in the four years that followed. His playing time has been particularly affected in the last two seasons at Anfield, when serious injuries have kept him out for much of the season.

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In 2023/24, Thiago played just five minutes due to a mixture of hip and muscle injuries. His departure on Wednesday’s restricted list was no surprise.

It’s easy to forget that when he arrived on Merseyside, the 33-year-old was backed by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Throughout his career, Thiago has received glowing praise from the Catalan head coach.

Before kicking off for the Reds, Guardiola told the media: “I am happy that Thiago is coming to England because England will enjoy a very good player. Without a doubt, a player who has played for Barcelona and Bayern Munich can play in in the Premier League Yes, of course, he can play”.

During his time as coach at Bayern Munich, Guardiola gave the Bavarian club an ultimatum – “Thiago or nothing”. “He was the only player I wanted (to join Bayern from Barcelona),” he later added.

“He has so much quality – above all his mentality. He always believes that anything is possible. He has no fear.”

Now that Thiago has left Anfield, it will be intriguing to see where he ends up. His injury record in recent seasons might put some sides off, but it’s a great shame for Liverpool and Arne Slot that they won’t be able to use him to the extent that Guardiola was able to earlier in his career.

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