Thiago Alcantara says former Liverpool players Philippe Coutinho and Xabi Alonso helped convince him that a move to Anfield was the right thing to do, after completing his switch from Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old completed his long-awaited move to Merseyside on Friday afternoon, with Liverpool agreeing to a £20m fee, which could rise to £25m based on a number of bonuses.
The Spain international won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern and the Champions League this season, having won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Barcelona before moving to Germany.
Born in Italy and having spent his childhood in Brazil, Thiago was keen for a new challenge and Liverpool was his first choice, although two former Reds and Bayern players helped make sure that Anfield was his next destination.
Asked whether he spoke to people about the move to Liverpool, he told the club’s official website: ‘Yeah, for sure.
‘More than the football aspect because in the end, Liverpool is what it is for the last years, the last decades.
‘They were amazing, they performed and it is raising every year as much as you can, as much as they can, as much as we can, is what I should say.
‘More than that, it is the family aspect, the life aspect – how is the city? Where to go. How was the life [here]?
‘People like Philippe Coutinho and Xabi Alonso helped me a lot to take this last step. It’s really good.’
With a string of other trophies to his name, Thiago is one of the most decorated players in Europe and intends to add more silverware to his collection on Merseyside.
‘When the years are passing, you are trying to win as much as you can – and when you win, you want to win more,’ he said. ‘I think this club describes what I am as well; I want to achieve all of the goals, win as many trophies as possible.
‘It also [has] this kind of family [feeling] that I need because we [like to] have a very close relationship with the club and I think I will feel this, I will have this feeling, with this club as well.’
There remains an outside chance that Thiago could be involved in the Premier League on Sunday at Chelsea, but the upcoming EFL Cup clash with Lincoln or Premier League meeting with Arsenal on Monday 28 September may be more realistic matches for his debut.
MORE: Why Chelsea and Arsenal decided against move for new Liverpool signing Thiago Alcantara
MORE: Thiago Alcantara explains what he will bring to the Liverpool midfield
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