Thiago Alcántara do Nascimiento

Born in Bari, Italy, Thiago joined Barça as a 14 year-old in 2005 and since then he hasn’t stopped growing as a player as he worked his way through the various youth teams.

Thiago has had a wide range of experience over his 20 years, since his father - Mazinho- was a profession himself and he lived in Brazil, Italy and Spain itself. When the family decided to move back to Galicia to live, Thiago began playing for Ureca de Vigo, where he soon caught the eye of a number of clubs, with Barça getting in first and signing him in 2005.

After a few seasons progressing through the Cadet and Youth teams, Thiago was promoted to the B team in the 2008-09 season, when he played 25 games and 18 more the year after.

He made his official first team debut in the game against Mallorca on May 17th 2009, when he was still only 18, and showed that despite his young age, he was capable of playing for both the B and first teams, coming on after 74 minutes for Eidur Gudjohnsen. He scored his first goal the following season –on February 20th against Racing Santander at the Camp Nou in the team’s 4-0 win. His only other game for the first team that year was in the Cup.

In the 2010-11 season, Thiago began to play a more important role in Guardiola’s team –featuring in 17 games, 12 in the league(six as a starter) where he scored twice, in Almeria and Donosti, three in the Spanish Cup, where he scored at the Camp Nou against Ceuta and a Champions League and Spanish Super Cup appearance. He also continued to play for Luis Enrique’s B team, making 11 appearances as the team finished third in the second division.


For the 2011-12 season, Thiago has been made a full first team squad member, after signing a contract renewal in June 2011 which will keep him at the Club until 2015.


PROFILE

Thiago is a special kind of player with an innate ability that makes him unpredictable and unique. His pin point passing and his added pace are combined with a special skill at free kicks too.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona
2011/12 European Super Copa
2011/12 Spanish Super Cup
2010/11 Champions League
2010/11 Lliga
2010/11 European Super Cup
2009/10 Lliga
2009/09 Lliga

Spain
2011 European Under-21 Champion
2008 European Under-17 Champion

CAREER

2011/12 FC Barcelona
2010/11 FC Barcelona B / FC Barcelona
2009/10 FC Barcelona B
2008/09 FC Barcelona B
2007/08 Juvenil A FCB - FC Barcelona B
2006/07 Cadet A FCB - Juvenil B FCB
2005/06 Cadet B FCB