Thiago absent as Bayern conduct COVID-19 tests ahead of the new season
Bayern München star Thiago Alcantara will not be present for his club's coronavirus testing on Tuesday amid speculation linking him with a departure.
Thiago Alcantara will be absent as Bayern München conduct COVID-19 tests on Tuesday ahead of the new season, according to Bild.
Apparently, the midfielder has been given some extra time off after playing for Spain against Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.
The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from Bayern München for months, with club bosses having admitted on several occasions that the Spanish midfield maestro is expected to depart Allianz Arena.
Thiago has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, but so far remains a Bayern player and raised a few eyebrows on Saturday when he told reporters that he "never said he would leave".
According to former German international Lothar Matthäus, it's not out the question that Thiago could stay.
"Thiago could obviously still stay at Bayern. At least, that's what it sounds like when you listen to what the player has said recently. It was clear that he had told FC Bayern that he wanted a new challenge, but his desire to leave doesn't seem to be as strong as it was a few weeks ago. This may of course be due to the fact that FC Bayern haven't received a satisfying offer from Liverpool or other interested clubs," Matthäus wrote in a column for Sky on Monday.
"Either the clubs aren't willing to pay the fee Bayern want, or the player's demands aren't met. In a few days, we will have clarity and see if Thiago will stay with the treble-winners after all. This would certainly be welcomed by Hansi Flick. He is clearly a big fan of the Spaniard, and would then still have four players for two positions with Goretzka, Kimmich, Tolisso and Thiago in his squad," he added.