Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has said he had not expected to persuade Bayern Munchen star, Thiago Alcantara, to move to Liverpool. Klopp said his decision to push for the deal was almost an afterthought as he felt it would be impossible to sign the Spanish international midfielder.
Premier League champions, Liverpool confirmed on Friday that they had captured the 29-year-old from Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to £25 million. Thiago arrived at Anfield on a four-year contract, with the Reds paying an initial £20 million, plus an additional £5 million in potential bonuses.
Klopp has been a long-time admirer Thiago but did not think ex Barça man would be prepared to leave Champions League holders Bayern anytime soon.
“Thiago – settled that much at Bayern – is usually out of reach for pretty much everybody,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
“If the player doesn’t want [to move] massively then you have no chance.
“You see that Bayern have long, long, long-term contracts with their main players and Thiago was a main player for Bayern over the years.
“I know all the people at Bayern wanted to keep him desperately; that’s normal and understandable because he played an important role last season as well.
“He just was ready for a new challenge and he decided it was with us. But did I think about him earlier? I thought a lot about him but never as a potential transfer, to be honest.”
Thiago arrives at Anfield as a Champions League and Bundesliga winner but Klopp says his squad will not be in awe of him given their own European and Premier League success over the past two seasons.
“The players are happy,” he added. “Since they knew about it they are really excited about it as well. And when they meet him, they will know he is a guy who doesn’t need any special treatment.
“He won the Champions League this year but all the other guys won it last year. Yes, he became German champion this year; our guys became English champions.
“It’s not that somebody is coming in and now we have to roll red carpets out or whatever; not at all. He wants to be part of the team, work hard and be as successful as possible.”
Klopp confirmed that Thiago will not be part of the squad for their top-flight clash with Chelsea on Sunday (September 20), meaning he could make his debut in the EFL Cup meeting with Lincoln City on Thursday.
