Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says new signing Thiago Alcantara will add a new dimension to the Premier League champions’ midfield and has hailed his arrival at the club.
The World Cup winner completed a £25million move from Bayern Munich to Anfield on Friday after undergoing a medical and putting pen to paper on his contract, while he could even take part in training with his new teammates in the afternoon.
Only last month Thiago was lifting the Champions League with Bayern and Klopp is delighted to have landed a player who will add more creativity to his side.
Asked what Thiago will bring to the team, Klopp told Liverpool’s website: ‘He can demand rhythm, that’s how it is. He can obviously create and use space for other players, all these kinds of things.
‘First touch incredible; vision incredible; passing pretty good! But is quick as well. Work-rate great.
‘His numbers were absolutely special last year in Germany as well, most steals, ball recoveries and all these kinds of things; most passes.
‘But we don’t play like Bayern, so that still will need some time to get settled and nobody should expect – and I don’t expect – the special things immediately, first game, let’s see.
On how it feels to have finally wrapped up the deal, Klopp continued: ‘Great! Absolutely great. I’m really happy that it finally worked out and we could just do it.
‘It’s very exceptional because in our situation, a lot of people around us talk constantly – “What are you doing?” – bam, bam, bam. Then preparing something like this, working on all different things you have to work in a transfer like this.
‘With thinking about a player like him already is a joy, to be honest, because it gives us obviously some options.
‘Then you get in contact with the boy and then you realise, OK, he obviously likes this project as well pretty much, even before he is here, which was really nice. I learned more and more about him as a person; the player I knew before, the person I learned.
‘So I’m really happy to bring this wonderful person in as an add-on to the squad, which is just good for football reasons – but for all the other reasons as well. So, yeah, absolutely happy that he’s here.’
