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Thiago, Thiago, Thiago. What more is there to say? Pure potential, dubbed to be the next Xavi, and he’s only 22. Not only that, but after his recent performances in the U21 tournament a whole list of clubs are supposedly interested in adding him to their squads, and the Red Devils are certainly in the mix.
Thiago passes like the Spanish, dribbles like a Brazillian and attacks like a German. He is the perfect attacking midfielder, and with all these qualities anyone would dream of having him play in their squad. He can pass the ball about with ease, from side to side with the utmost composure and accuracy, and then play that well-timed killer ball that has the potential to hurt at any given time. He has this natural ability to just go past a player in the midfield with just one movement of his feet or body, and he is in space. He is then able to set the ball off to someone else, showing maturity that few other young world class midfields have. Of course Thiago also possesses an attacking mind set, unlike most of the other spanish midfielders who are quite comfortable to play possession football until a clear chance opens up. Thiago just seems to have this undeniable urge to just want to attack, and that suits United, and the Premiership, very well.
Recent transfer interest has sparked up about Thiago, simply because of his current situation at Barcelona. Having only made 15 starts last season, Thiago is said to be unhappy with his game time and is looking to go elsewhere. Not only is this an incentive for any club to persue him because, although he has a €90 million release clause, unless he participated in at least 60% of Barcelona’s first team games (which he didn’t), the clause would fall to an extreme low of €18 million – that is remarkably cheap given his age, ability and potential. Thiago has also made even more clubs aware of his abilities by his recent performances in the U21 European tournament, with some absolutely dazzling displays of his class, especially in the final against Italy in which he totally dictated the game with his play and scored the “perfect” hat-trick.
Manchester United are said to be leading the chase for his signature, with numerous media sources claiming that Thiago has agreed a contract with United and has even had a meeting with Barcelona representatives claiming that he wants to leave the club. The only thing left to agree on is the fee, with United looking to snap him up for less than his release clause, but we have to assume they also are willing to meet it. As much as I hate to say it, this is the transfer market and deals can fall through and have slight hitches in them, so if the United deal doesn’t go through, I believe there will be many other clubs interested in Thiago, with Bayern Munich and Man City said to be the most interested after United.
I’m very excited like many other fans at seeing Thaigo for United, or at least playing regular football whether in the Premiership or elsewhere. I think he has the potential to be one of the greats, especially if he is allowed to flourish in the Premiership. I also think he will fit nicely in to the United squad, and into whatever formation and set up David Moyes decides to implement – his versatility allows him to play anywhere in the centre of the midfield, and if needed out wide or behind the striker.
Having said all this, if game time is what Thiago wants, United is the place to get it. At Barca he has to compete with Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas and Song, but at United the midfield is arguably our weakest area. So it’s easy enough to say and I think every fan wants it – Thiago to Manchester United!
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