A biography for Thiago Alcantarahasn’t been written yet.
“Football has a thing: You have to decide on an action in a moment, and your head has to be fresh for taking that decision in the moment.”
“I never thought of playing for Italy.”
“It's the perfect club for any footballer to develop and to grow, because as everybody knows, La Masia can give you stability; they take care of you when you leave home.”
“Football's always been cerebral. The most important thing is thinking fast.”
“There are people you can say you have seen play, such as Pele or Maradona. But Messi is unique, out on his own, and is going to make history. I can say I saw Messi play.”
“We're very happy in Munich. I have my kids here. Everything is perfect.”
“You need to know how to enjoy the victories. In the end, this is a great sport, and it's to be enjoyed.”
“The best thing about having a footballer dad is seeing the game up close. You watch him train, then go home and practice what you've seen in the front room, rearranging the furniture.”
“Pep trusted me, and I felt that trust. He won a lot of things, and I learned a lot from him during his Barcelona period.”
“In Italy, they are incredibly competitive. It may be that their game is more defensive, but they defend so well; here in Germany, there is more speed and intensity. In England, they are more direct, very box-to-box.”
“I'm thrilled to be at a massive club like Bayern Munich.”
“As long as you are happy and passionate about what you are doing, you will always develop your skills to be the best you can be.”
“I was right choosing to play with Spain. It is a pride; the decision was easy. I love Spain.”
“Football is global; it does not end at Barca.”
“All of you know how Pep Guardiola is as a manager... he is the best coach in history.”
“I don't regret the move to Bayern. It's a very good moment for me, also because my team-mates trust in me.”
“Football's become more physical. I would have liked to have been born 10 or 20 years earlier to enjoy football with the same commitment and desire but without the toughness it has now.”
“The games I enjoy most are the ones I finish exhausted, and with knocks, but having played.”
“When I was small, I would sit next to my dad and watch the round-up highlights programme with him, and we would talk about the games. I loved it.”
“Barcelona, Real Madrid, City - there are many teams you'd want to play against.”