They caught my eye and never released it! Part 1: Thiago
You may have never seen them before, but when they touch the ball they catch your eye within an instant. Then they never give it back. There are two players that have done that to me, one in 2008 and the other in 2011, both in youth national team tournaments. They are two very different players, but they have some common factors. They were both born in 1991, they were raised at La Masia and they both have names that start with the letter T. Over two posts I will try to explain how Thiago Alcántara and Cristian Tello put me under their spell and how sure I am that these two won’t disappoint in the near and distant future.
Thiago Alcántara
The first time I saw Thiago live
In 2008 my love for FC Barcelona had grown so big that watching only the first team wasn’t enough for me anymore. It was time to take on the youth players as well. So I sat down to follow the U-17 European championship on eurosport as I knew there were a few Barça kids in the squad. I remember the first game of the tournament clearly, it was against France and I hadn’t yet looked up what players were from Barcelona. But one kid caught my eye as he took his first touch. He saw the game in a way none of his peers did. He knew when to pass the ball and when to go solo. He never lost the ball, not even once, and his passes were always perfect. Playing like that and wearing the number 8 on his Spanish national shirt made it hard for me to remember I wasn’t watching Xavi. I even had to remind myself, “No Alex, it’s not Xavi, he is too old for U-17.” After that game I felt a bit like I was floating on clouds, knowing that a new Xavi was coming. I checked UEFA’s website on my computer, as I had to see who the kid with the no. 8 was, because it couldn’t be Xavi, could it? There it was: number 8, Thiago Alcántara, FC Barcelona. I recall I jumped up and down for some seconds, he was a blaugrana man! I kept on watching the entire tournament and in every game, Thiago was better than he had been in the last one. Spain won the trophy, and with no surprise, Thiago was one of the tournaments best players.
I could never really get my mind off Thiago Alcántara after that. As he was still in Barça’s youth teams, it would be awhile before I could see him play again. But after he got promoted to the B team, I on some occasions was lucky enough to find a steam, and watch him on the pitch. With each game I saw, he seemed to play better and better. He never disappointed. I also remember my joy when Thiago got to make his debut for the first team. I don’t recall to whom I said it, but watching the game that evening I stated something along the lines of “this is our midfield’s future man“.
Thiago also showed that he could handle himself at the top level. In August of 2010 I went down to Barcelona to watch the Joan Gamper Game against AC Milan. It may not have been an official game, but it was against a strong opponent and Thiago Alcántara outshone everyone. It was the first time I had seen him play in person, and believe it or not he was even better than on television! The game went to penalties and I remember seeing Thiago walking up, putting the ball on the spot, shooting it up in the top corner, turning around and walking back to his teammates, ice-cold. At this time Thiago was still a B team player getting some chances with the first team. The next day I went to the Barça shop and bought a Thiago #30 shirt. It couldn’t be any other way.
Couldn't be any other way
Next time I visited Barcelona, in May 2011, I went to my first live B team game at the Miniestadi. Thiago was still technically a B team player, and he wasn’t in the game as he had been practicing and playing with the first team. A few weeks later in fact, he would get promoted. Just before halftime I noticed him in the stands, in the middle of eating some popcorn and joking with his friends. What else could I do then but walk up to him for a chat, a picture and an autograph?
Some months later he would not only be a well known cantera player, he would be a world famous football star. Thiago has broken into the first team, in a way that would have surprised me, if I hadn’t been following him since that game against France in 2008. He has gone from controlling the midfield for Barça B in games against opponents like Cartagena, Salamanca and Alcorcón, to controlling it in the same way, if not even more so, with the first team in games against opponents like Villarreal, Real Madrid, or Manchester United. If I started to follow Barça today and someone told me that Thiago was only 20 years old and was playing with Barça B just last season, I wouldn’t believe them.
A meeting to remember
In his first game as an official “first team player” against Villarreal at the start of this season, Thiago played the best game I’ve seen a 20 year old play (Lionel Messi excluded). The game ended in a 5-0 win, Thiago ended with one goal and two assists, and that doesn’t give a fair view of how good he really was. In my honest opinion, Thiago Alcántara is no longer merely a football talent. Not anymore, he is long past that. He is a star. And not only a star, but he is now one of the best midfielders in the world. And do you know what, he is just getting better.
When I first saw him he reminded me of Xavi, but he isn’t a completely new Xavi. No, Thiago has something different. He has the same unbelievable eye on the pitch that Xavi does, he can also make those fantastic passes that no one else could see. But Thiago also has something else thanks to his Brazilian roots and that is technique. In some ways he reminds me a lot of Ronaldinho. Mix Xavi and Ronnie and you get Thiago, can it get much better?
Of course there is still a lot of hard work ahead for this boy, but if he keeps on the path he has been on for the past few years, I’m sure that Thiago Alcantara can go as far as possible!
Stay tuned for part 2 with a special look at Cristian Tello.
wow, awesome story! thanks for sharing. will be waiting for part 2!
i love your story.. i wish i had a photo with thiago, messi and busquets..
i have frekin dreams of getting autographs from barca players…
Fantastic article, and really nice to see a girl being a true football fan!__I don't know 1 girl, who cares about football.. But maybe i'm just living in the wrong naborhood..
Are you sure you just dont know any girls? haha only joking
, it must just depend on where you're from because i know lots of girls that are football fans.
Hehe, no hard feelings. Well, guess you're right, it depends. Know alot of girls who say they like Barca, but they don't really care about them. There's not 1 of them who is as passionate as this girl anyways..
Thats very irrelevant!
Unfortunately NO ONE CARES about your Kristy around here except her fellow feudal-Madrid-trolls on totalBarca… Otherwise show me your prettiest Madrid lady and I’ll show you one Bluagrana lady amongst the many princesses (including the lady with Thiago) we have that beats them all, hands down, just like our men beats thier (Madrid’s) ugly karate boys, on the pitch!!
Show me that one lady…otherwise you're just talking crap…all I know is cules ladies are all puke meme.jpg
Sorry, I dont respond to objects without a consistent name on blog sites because they are usually out to ferment trouble, hence they write without a thinking faculty and so I certainly wont start with any object bearing 1234 as a name!! Barca leads the world. That says it all about the Blaugrana women that give birth to the individuals that play in Barca!!
plzz dont be so rude to girls.. i m a girl and a huge football fan
right now i m feeling like a criminal to explain to some one that how much i love barca (it is my second family) but your misconception had to be cleared
but i have to agree with you that majority of girls dont know anything about sports let alone football
they dont even know who leo messi or roger fed or michael jordan is..
im a girl barca fan…and I know every player, their history, their age, where they were born and their whole biography!! i never miss a match and im a die hard barca fan for life. Ive supported through thick and thin, and i cant imagine supporting another team :d VISCA BARCA Y VISCA CATALUNYA!
Very nice story!
Though you should know Xavi's technique is still better than Thiago's. Technique is not all about samba. It's about the first touch, control and everything. That's something Xavi is awfully good at.. probaply one of the best first touches i have seen in my life. But hey.. Thiago's still young! Time is on his side!
Well said. It's true that Thiago hasn't reached those Xavi-Iniesta-tiki-taka heights but if he keeps being professional and continues learning from Xavi, Iniesta and Co. he will be truly outstanding. He has the talent to become a Balon D'Or candidate.
Agree with you Barca_Holland. Although I think Iniesta's first touch is a tad better, He has the best first touch in the world.
I'm not saying Thiago has better technique then Xavi, he don't. But I'm talking about a different kind of technique, Thiago reminds of Ronnie because he have that samba in his body. That was what I tried to say, that he got another style in a way..
So you are absolute right in what your saying!
share the same feelings about him, love his playstyle
mali is through!
Recently i've been thinking we praise these young talents too much. They need to stay grounded, we don't want anymore crybabies like Bojan who think they are already at the top because they get all the praise. Thiago has not proven himself yet nearly enough to warrant being named succesor of anyone like Xavi or Iniesta or whoever else on midfield. He's physically not even top level in la liga yet. His handling and overview of the game is not 1 but 5 levels behind Xavi. It will take years and tons of playing time, and only time will tell. And Tello for goodness sake, he just started playing.
Be careful, barca, these same type of stories were made about many players who ended up dissapearing into obscurity and never realizing their potential. Don't put too much weight on the shoulders of these kids.
Exactly. These words are too dreamy for my liking. it's like dejavu, stories written about tons of other players at that age, most who would never even come close to make that reality.
It's all nice, but this article with really, all de respect, it's more romantic than realistic at this moment in time.
What happen to Bojan is another case, the case of a boy with huge talent getting promoted as a 17 year old. That was to early and he deserved the praise but it was to early and when the injured players got back he was on the bench, losing his self-confidence which means losing his goal scoring abilities. Thiago got promoted first at 20, and with no injuries he has broken into the the best midfield that exist in the world, really taken up a fight for the spots. Xavi is far ahead of Thiago, yes but that is only natural. But fact is that Thiago is if you look at statistics one of La Liga's best midfielders for instance he is one of very few players in the world ever to make over a 100 correct passes in a game. With Thiago it's not to early, it's just in time. I see what you are saying about praising them to much but I don't agree, this is players that will keep their feet on the ground. Many of them have had real set backs in there career's already, something Bojan hadn't, Tello got to leave the club once, Cuenca was playing for Sabella not long ago, they know how fast everything can change for the better and for the worse.. Also this is a special time, because this players are on another level then the ones that been before, Barça B is a strong team in the second division now, not a team in the third of forth division, it's a huge difference!
and also Thiago is more handsome too eh… just admit it… you fancy him dont you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xD
True, but your article seems too much. Of course he can play, and he's a big talent, but a superstar is WAY too much at this time. You are counting practise games as his claim to fame. No player who hasn't played a full season consistently well can even be considered a serious star, let alone a superstar. it's way too much credit, way too soon.
The big boys at barca have to play under so much more pressure against opponents who play the game of their lives against them. This is very different from some summer practise games or barca b games even if they do play only 1 division lower, the intent at how their opponents face them is different, they aren't playing the best team in the world, trying to fight for the result of their life, like opponents do Barca's A team.
The times he played retaining the ball is okay, but he doesn't put his stamp on the team at all yet. So comparing him to either Ronaldinho or Xavi at this point, i stick by what i said, is WAY too soon. Second division is good, but Werder Bremen, Benfica, Lyon, Roma, that type of teams is still well above that level. And those are still well beneath Barca A's level.
He could become amazing, but when you look at some of Madrid's players, like Ozil, or Sahin, they were playing every week, full games, carrying their teams, and Ozil even carried the german national team at that age. Thiago is just not playing nearly enough, and this could put a hamper on his development.
You think Real Madrid is a team lower then Bremen, Benfica, Lyon etc? Because in the start of this season Thiago got the responsibility to run the midfield in one of the super cup clashes against Madrid, with a team just coming back from vacation, many without any real training, while Madrid had made a serious pre-season, he didn't do it like Xavi or Iniesta, he isn't on that level and I've said that. But he manage to do it and Barça won. The only reason Thiago isn't carry his team yet is because he is at the best club in the world, I'm sure that at any other team he would be their "Xavi". Just look at Oriol Romeu who already taken a starting place at Chelsea, he wasn't sure to get one in all the b-teams games.
Also I'm not saying that Thiago is at either the level of Xavi or Ronaldinho, I'm saying the kid has skills that reminds of theirs and that if he keeps on working hard he has great chance reaching a really high level.
Also how can you not consider a player that have been playing with the best national team in the world a start? I can also ensure you that Thiago will be in the squad for the Euro this summer. And a player that takes a place in the best midfield in the world is a star, Thiago has done that, putting Cesc on the bench not because he needed resting but because Thiago is better. Yes I value Thiago higher then Cesc and also here sats on controlling the ball and passes are on my side.
You mentioned Özil and at Thiagos age he won the U21 Euro and got named the best player of the tournament he was carrying the U21 national team, Thiago did the same and even scored the decisive goal… the only difference for Thiago is that he is coming up against best midfield there is, both at Barça and in the Spanish national team, the thing is he is really taking up the fight.
"already a superstar" ??? He isnt a superstar yet ffs // Messi is a superstar, Xavi is a superstar, Iniesta is a superstar… are you saying he is as good as them… they worked hard to get where they are…. btw thanks for deleting my first comment… lmao freedom of speech eh !!!!!! superstar lol ….he has STARTED 17 games for the first team in his career…. SEVENTEEN games and already you have him as a superstar….. he will be one yes but he isnt there yet and he wont get there if he already believes he has made it…like u do… !!!!!
He is a star, not a superstar…. haven't said anything else… also I've said he need to keep on working just as hard… just saying he already should be considered a football star and not a talent anymore. But he still has a lot of work to do before being at the level of Messi or Xavi.
Playing a couple of games on top level is something many players have done, just as many of them never made it big. Consistency on a long term is what makes a real top player. This can only be proven over longer period of time. If Messi only played 1 season really well and sucked the rest most people would not consider him great. He has proven it for years this is why he is who he is. Same for Iniesta, Xavi, and others.
Thiago right now is better than i remember Xavi being at the same age, but many players were better than Xavi was at that time, but Xavi gradually grew and kept growing, through hard times at Barca where nothing was won and he grew through resistance and fighting, criticizing, and he saw the nasty side of the game, when many barca fans turned against him, let's not forget that, right now everything seems so great, but many barca fans turned on their own players not THAT long ago, all those things formed and strenghtend Xavi. Many of our current youngsters come into a warm bath, a comfortable pleasant enviroment. It's a really different situation.
Right now Thiago is only a talented player, granted, he is very talented, but that's all he is at this time. He's far from a star player. A star player shows it every week against strong competition.
Talent is very far from a guarantee for being succesful. Like i said, at the time Xavi started playing many players of his age stood out a lot more and seemed way more talented, but Xavi is on top now and many of those supertalents dissapeared without doing anything special. This is what happens a lot in football. The one who never quits often comes out on top. I hope Bojan shows us that same mentality too and comes back and shows his promise.
I agree with everything your saying here. But Thiago is a star at the moment, if we forget that the kid is 20 years old, if we forget it's just his first season. And we instead look at how he is playing, then at the moment I would say he is one of the 80 best football players in the world at the moment. But like I have been saying he need to keep working hard, like any football player has to. The hardest thing is not always getting there, it's staying there. A good example is Micheal Owen he was one of the best players in the world when he was still very young, and look at him now, he is not even close to being up there… Just because I'm saying Thiago is a star now, is up there don't mean he always will be.
Agreed with all you have said; he is a star at this age, but more fundamentally, as you said; it takes more work to stay there, be consistent, than to get there……now his hard work needs to start…..
Agreed 100% Jayjay.
Not all overhyped talents end up like Bojan or Gio. Messi was the most hyped-up player, and look how he have turned out.
That's the most extreme example you can name. Messi is not someone comparable to anyone.
Both Messi and Iniesta were extremely hyped up. As was Cesc (best player in the u-17 World Cup).
We didn't know that back then. Of course it's a valid example.
well freddy adu is the most hyped up player ever
nice one!! another 2 years and Thiago will be untouchable!!!
I think our youngsters are better of being loaned out.
Look at players like Di Maria, Benzema, Ozil. I am no madrid fan, but they carried their respective teams to some level, at the same age as Tello and Thiago, Bremen, Lyon, Benfica, good solid teams.
They played every week, against solid resistance, while many of our youngsters just wait for the very few chanses they get. At their age it's better imo to play every week, and experience defeat, fighting, struggling, and creating character to get your place, and with your talent be able to make a huge mark on a smaller team than Barca. Only then you should be able to be considered an asset to the best 11-22 of barca . Look at Bojan, Roma is a smaller club, but he too can't be indisputable starter there yet. So he has absolutely no business yet to be one at Barca. But when he fights through that tough time, he might be a world class player in time.
Nobody creates top class players like La Masia. Not even close. Our policy of not loaning out our best talents speak for itself. 75% of our team is from La Masia, a staggering percentage compared to any top club in the world, or even any club in any top division.
If you take out Pique who was at Man UTD for 2-3 seasons, Fabregas was gone for a very long time, that leaves Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Valdez, who all made their debut more than 10 years ago.
Messi made his debut more than 7 years ago. Busquets and Pedro 4 years ago. Barca has the luxury to be able to financially keep their best players, but if you look at it realistically, not THAT many players come from la masia and break through permanently. The percentage that doesn't make it is much bigger.
La Masia is great, but without the disadvantage of financially being forced to sell their talents, a lot of clubs in france, portugal, holland, to name some would also have great teams from their own academy.
I think people are clouded about La Masia too much, not everything's perfect especially in the route to the first team. Fabregas at age 25 is still not good enough to make a real difference even. Only Busquets is undisputably a major contributor to the first team, and to lesser extent Pedro.
Thiago is already one of my favorite players in the world, and imho, one of the world's best 15 midfielders, if not top 10, at only 20. He is just such a star! Mark my words, he is the next best player we have produced since Messi, and will end his career at the same calibre as the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, etc… I am sure he will also be a Balon D'or contender in his prime, maybe even winning one or two himself, if Messi ever slows down during his career. I have been saying these things for a long time now, but there were always those who doubted his qualities.
Thiago is one of the most naturally talented players I have ever seen. His touch is so brilliant, he is soo smart, his throughballs are brilliant, both in the air and on the ground, his shots can be dangerous and he is even a brilliant header of the ball! He makes mouth watering 30-40 yard outside of the boot passes that fall perfectly to the target like its nothing. He is barely out of his teenage years and he already imo deserves a spot high up in the roster for both Spain and Barca. And do you know how freaking hard it is to get a spot in the Spanish NT, being a CM especially? I wonder how many world class midfielders struggle to get a simple callup while Thiago is being eased into the side slowly but surely.
Of course, we shouldn't get too excited (i get guilty of that) because he still has a long way to go. But I see him as a very humble, hardworking, and modest, and I believe he has all that it takes. Good luck Thiago!
last time i read "mark my words" was that guy that said madrid will surely loose to getafe this weekend =p not saying thiago is bad or something. he's got very much talent and of course he could be one ofe the greatest/best midfielders in some years but until then nobody can say what's gonna happen.
I gotta admit, you are very right, I mean look at what happened with Bojan, Jeffren, GDS, Gai Assulin, etc. And at the same time players you would never suspect become stars, its crazy. But I really have a great feeling about Thiago, he inspires the same type of excitement, confidence, and sureness in me and others that hasn't been there since when Messi was just breaking through. And besides, I think he has gone far enough into "making it," certainly farther than others. He is already a brilliant supersub for the world's best club and best NT, and I know he will go on to do great things. The only thing that can stop him is himself, and he has proven by now that he will never let that happen.
OT: keeps bugging my head… wtf how did a 24yr old won 3 consecutive balon d or… he's very exceptional kid…
Thiago is the man….
Cool article, keep it up! Certainly worth the read.
OT: Will there be streams to watch the Juvenil A game on wednesday, when they are playing Ajax A1? I really want to see it, but I'm not sure if it's possible.
I agree with that you see many things of Xavi in Thiago. probably Thiago sees Xavi as one of his examples and took a lot from him, by watching him play.. There were questions about him, his attitude and not being a real team guy, arrogant, etc.
But till so far he has been a great addition to the first team. I was impressed when I saw him playing in real, that despite him being small and slender, he is a real tough guy and is not afraid to get into a one to one duel with taller, stronger looking opponents. I also liked his attitude, when he played with young Spain. He really took the leading role on the pitch, and of the pitch he gave credit to his teammates, despite getting so much praise he gave credit to his teammates for their success.
Together with Fabregas, Barca has two new fantastic players in the team, who are both able to play on Xavi's position.
With Iniesta only 27 and Fabregas, Busquets, and Thiago all under 25, Barca's midfield should be a dominant force for many years
One of the best , and still many more to come
Ill admit,i thoroughly enjoyed this piece.hope to see it on barca’s official site for the roundup…
On the one hand,i agree with ppl above that its too early to compare thiago with xavi or iniesta or ronaldinho..but i get the feeling the author knows that too and meant to state in a manner that even la masia is lucky to develop a player with the potential to reach that level.
The experience that he gets playing with the best will improve his decision making and allow him to dominate games…besides he’s 20,he’s just a kid and already his mature game is truly astonishing..kudos to Alexandra for the article!
Xavi and Iniesta are both from La Masia.
By the age of 24-25, Thiago will another Ronaldinho or almost similar for Barca, but we sincerely hope that he does not follow the footsteps of the MAESTRO later on….
thiago being a combination of what….. dinho and xavi? Now its either thiago is been mocked here or dis is just another completely outrageous exaggeration of d lads humble skils and if the later is true, then am forced to believe that this lady has a love affair with Thiago seriously! I mean come on!
no exaggeration there – he does has the style of ronnie and xavi – clear to see
Not the talent yet but the style is a mixture of both
You are the one exaggerating here. Yes, Alex is a tad too excited here, but she has a point. Thiago has flair and vision. I agree with you that Ronladinho's flair is almost impossible to replicate for his talent and cheekiness combined were unbelievably flashy. But Thiago tries some cool tricks too, although he'd better master the more effective part of his game.
Who needs stepovers when you can leave players in the dust with a quick turn?
she clearly meant style of play which is a fair comment
Great read, looking forward to the Tello one
great piece
really enjoyed reading it, but one little thing, it's THE THIAGO, not Thiago 
THE Queen.. I'm sorry for missing out on that, but it should be THE popcornboy if we'll take it all the way xD
hmm? I love Thiago, he will become one of the best players in the world, someday, but dont remind him to much with Iniesta and Xavi, these two players are probably the two best midfield players in this clubs history, And no disrespect to Thiago but Messi, was a ballon dor top three at age 20.
I'm seeing two extremes in these discussions. One side already puts Thiago besides Xavi and Iniesta, another calls him overrated and over-hyped. (Some still treat Bojan unfairly, which is disheartening.)
The truth is in between. Thiago is talented and ambitious, but he doesn't have enough experience or maturity to be a star just yet.
Does Thiago have the potential to be as influential as Iniesta? I believe so? Is he? Not yet. Can he become as influential as Xavi? My opinion is that he cannot, or rather, will not be so.
We don't need to categorize players as most players offer something unique. Villa isn't very technical nor pacey, he isn't a Barcelona-level passer and he doesn't have La Masia ball control, but he can be a game saver with his experience and creativity in front of the goal.
Alexis isn't a prolific scorer (yet) and his passing is nowhere near Barca's passing quality, yet his bravery, balance, and excellent ball control have been very helpful so far.
So Thiago is a world-class youngster with the potential to become a world-class midfield master, but he's not there yet. His last few games were not impressive by any standard and he's not been impressive for a while now. Is it because he doesn't play as much? Probably. It is very essential to play regularly especially at this stage of his career. Is it because he's in a different line-up everytime he plays? Most likely so, as the rest of the team suffers from Pep's excessive rotation and position changes.
He's our brightest youngster yet, and he is very likely to fulfill his potential and become one of Barcelona's top midfielders, which is currently the biggest compliment to any midfielder in the world. Will he become a flop? Extremely unlikely.
If you have followed Alcantara like Alex has done here, you'd know he's going to be huge. I have always believed that Cuenca would become a quality winger in the mold of Navas and this year he's proven me right. When a player has that kind of ball control, that awareness and above all, that level of intelligence, you know he is destined to shine. Be it Thiago, Cuenca, or Tello.
Something is not right in this article to be honest. Danijel Aleksic was named best player of the tournament, not Thiago. Writer should have checked that better.
i'm just writting, because the missinformations could carry on forward and it would be unfair to the one who was really crowned as best man.
Thanks for notice it, then I guess Thiago was man of the match in the final and it confused me, quite a long time ago. But you right I should have checked it up and not just trust my memory..
Thanks for noticing my correction also
it's still good article, i prefer such, gives me plenty of entertainment to read such articles, so thank you
very nice story…….i hope someday i will have a picture with him or any Barca players ..its really my dream
To say the least, this is a very very good article. You may argue the points she raised, but that was what she felt.l always argue with a very stunch FCBian, whenever Thiago features in our games. He says that Thiago may be gifted but plays without much responsibility. You know, that’s the difference between a young star and a super star. For Thiago to break into this FCB MF, you must give it to him, he is not just good he is special. The writer may have given her own version of the “Rise of a germ”, but if you want to know where Thiago maybe later; Then watch when these players: Don Andres, Prof. Xavi, Sexy Busquet, El MESSIah, and (guess who?) Thiago play. What do you notice they all have in common in their style?
thiago alcantaras only 20 years old playing amongst not some of the best but litelary the best midfielders in the world and he aint doing a bad job.if he were in a different club i think hed be more appreciated bcoz now he has 2 be compared to xavi and iniesta 2 of the best midfielders of all time plus theres fabregas who i believe will become better than xavi bcoz if u luk at his prem videos boy he was out of this world.the problem with cesc is that the premier league has made him used to a direct style of play whereas in barca you have to pass the ball around a lot more before the final pass and thats what he needs to adapt to.give him a season or 2 and ull see why.xavi is mor intelligent but fabregas is also highli intelligent and can thread better balls.pls fabregas haters just go 2 you tube and watch fabregas arsenal assists and his passmaster videos.the day im waiting 4 is when fabregas and xavi seat deep and just thread those long ball to messi and co.its actually a tactic we havnt explored against teams that pack the bus.put our ball playing midfielders deep and let our fowards make runs thatl disorganize opposition defences.dem i wish i had guardiolas email
I hope someone somewhere called Pep Guardiola reads this article, maybe, i mean just maybe, he will give him a chance over a certain Keita, or a 40 million Cesc
nice pics
Thiago is gonna be great
He's just need to stay grounded and keep up the hard work
He has improved immensely in the last year
i actually love thiago