Thiago spent a few weeks in Flick’s staff last summer and is credited with helping the coach adapt to life in a new country. The two were very close during Thiago’s time as a Bayern Munich player with Flick as his coach, and that relationship carried over to the beginning of Hansi’s tenure in Catalonia.

Barcelona expect to close a deal for Thiago Alcantara to return to the club as part of coach Hansi Flick's staff in the coming weeks, various sources have told ESPN.