Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Juvenil A attacking midfielder Thiago Alcántara (17) has been closely followed by scouts of Juventus and several English Premier League clubs during the European U-17 championship last month in Turkey (read more here).
Thiago was one of the key players of the Spanish team that became European champions and because of previous experiences with players from the Barcelona youth academy, the scouting by other European top clubs has caused some concerns in Barcelona.
The youngster, who is known for his dribbling and passing skills, joined Barcelona in 2005 arriving from Gallician club Ureca. Before he played for Flamengo in Brazil. Despite an offer from Chelsea, Thiago signed a three-year contract (with an option for two more years) with Barcelona when he turned sixteen last year.
Thiago played the current season mainly with the Juvenil A team but already made his debut for Barcelona B. Due to injuries the Spanish youth international did not play a lot this season. Last september he made his senior debut with the first team in the semi-final of the Copa Catalunya.
Thiago Alcántara was born in Italy and grew up in Spain and Brazil. He has the double Spanish-Brazilian nationality and although he's currently playing for the Spanish youth selections, he could well choose to represent Brazil in the future. Thiago is the son of former Valencia and Celta Vigo midfielder Mazinho, who became world champion with Brazil in 1994. His younger brother Rafael (15) is also playing for Barcelona.
Read more:
Youth: Thiago Alcántara
Youth: Diego Polenta (Danubio)
Youth: Jonathan Dos Santos
Read all Youth transfer stories here
Monday 23 June 2008
Youth: Juventus and English clubs following Thiago
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5 comments:
Hope they dont let those talents slip away from their hands. as they did in previus occasions.
i think he's one off our most talented boys'
Number one: omg dont be an idiot. You cant blame the club for Cesc, Merida and Pique. If the player decides to leave you cant do anything, I repeat anything!!! What want you do more than offer a deal? Nothing...you have no right to refuse the bid if the player is not professional. This rule sucks but its reality and it allows that English clubs are stealing our best prospects.
As long as Barcelona are not pressured by his father to join the first team (as in the case of a couple of other former youth players) I think Alcantara's status at the club will be just fine. Pep might decide to promote him to the first team in any event which would make the whole issue moot. Although personally I think he should remain with the "B" team for at least one more season. Sure he could learn a lot from practicing with the first team and observing them from the bench. But to me that's not as good as getting consistent playing time and further developing your game. And if he just sat on the bench all season collecting dust you wonder what that would do to his confidence. So I think another year with the "B" team would be the right way to go.
Lets hope we dont pull another fabregas on him.Agree with the comment above that keeping him in the B team is or barcelona atletico as its now called, is the bset option.As well, since they got promoted last season,he will be playing at a higher level then before which will go towards further sharpening his blade.
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