Thiago Alcantara is already the name on everybody’s lips at Manchester United and he has now been named the Player of of the Tournament for the U21 European Championship in Israel.
The 22-year-old midfielder was Spain’s captain in their tournament winning campaign with his hat-trick in the final being the highlight of the whole competition for many.
Both David de Gea and Thiago were named in the squad of the tournament as chosen by UEFA’s technical team and they lauded the 22-year-old midfielder’s ‘influential performances’ from midfield.
“As captain of the title winners, Thiago displayed leadership qualities on and off the pitch,” said UEFA’s panel.
“And, throughout the tournament, was an influential figure in his team’s performance with impressive box-to-box work; exceptional ball control even in the tightest of situations; ability to dictate the tempo of play; intelligent ball-winning based on anticipation rather than tackling; and outstanding playmaking skills based on a wide variety of short and long passing.
“His three goals in the final represented a unique individual achievement and reward for his contributions to his team’s success.”
Thiago’s hat-trick in the final was text book; a header, left footed shot and penalty all oozed confidence from a midfielder who was in a rich vein of form all tournament when he knew the spotlight was on him.
Given that it was in a major international final, his hat-trick was even more impressive and it showed just why Barcelona are so desperate to hold onto a player they may lose due to their own carelessness after a lack of game time activated his €18 million release clause.
It is hard for United fans not to get carried away at the thought of Thiago in a red shirt next season given the rumours that are growing in strength with each passing day.
And the 22-year-old’s Player of the Tournament trophy is likely to be the first of many individual accolades in what could be an illustrious career if he follows in his father Mazinho’s footsteps, a player who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil.
Let’s just hope those accolades can be won at United.
Photo: UEFA.com
28 comments
Pls tell moyes 2 by thiago alcantara at all cost,so dat ur mildfid will b strong.
Am a die hard man U fan,David please……………..we need thiego to strengthen up the midfield.
[…] who was recently crowned as the best player at the Under 21 European Championships, appears set to move to Old Trafford with personal terms widely reported to have been already […]
You’re missing the point mate.. it’s what they’re saying that matters, not how they say it. Those “retards” as you so eloquently (irony) stated, can speak ANOTHER language fluently. Now lets have a guess at how many languages Jack can speak? ONE and by the evidence “before your try type it !” the poor lad strugges with co-ordination or learning difficulties….. such as dyslexia (yes Jack, that IS how its spelled).. yer racist ignorant tit. Do one.
Man there are some retarted people commenting lol. Learn to speak english before your try type it !
“before your try type it !” ? what dialect is that?!
pls devid moyes, do evry tin 2 sign thiago n don’t let rooney go. Am beggin u in d name god. United we stand, divided we fall.
thiago is a greetest player wil utd wel need him and i wil like to see thiago n strootman in red shrit next season moyes
Thiago acantara+troomer+leigten we’re complete
De gea
Rapheal
Evanz
Ferdi
Bainez
Thiago
Carrick
strotman
Kagawa
Lewandoski
Robin vanpersie
Na dis information sure pass
Plizz, Man Utd do make our dream cum true by signing up Thiago n K Strooman
Thiago is a great player we manchester united sign him bt we still need stroman and a supporting midfielder like giggs.Then we need we defenders like baines managala
if the rumour comes true,then man u will succesifully retain the EPL title.
Akeju c ur head! How many player you wan buy?
sign thiago up and bring in strootman.
i agree we should play a 4 3 3 with two wide players kagawa and rooney/zaha wide coming in up top with rvp/rooney/hernandes as a striker. carrick holds the midfield with strootman and thiago has a licence to kill. oh so many options!! mufc and buy thiago and strootman for this to happen. pls moyes
yes united should get thiago cos he is good midfilder n not to forget of strootman a defensive midfider n strootman defend who will help solve i our defensive problem.i know with de 60 million given david moyes for his can bring dis playes to united.with dis players we will have sparkling tean nxt season.
Thiago is a really exciting player and he will be a really good signing for Man Utd. The guy has incredible control of the football and is unpredictable. We have needed a player like that for a while, and I am looking forward to seeing him and Kagawa in full flow.
I think we need to move away from the wide players and start trying to control the game through a more high tempo passing game. We can achieve this now with Thiago and Kagawa in the team. Ferguson showed us really what was coming by using a diamond formation last season. I’m not saying we will throw the wide players away, but new ideas are needed and Moyes will do this.
I personally believe that we should adopt a 4-3-2-1 formation, as it will provide more freedom for Thiago and Kagawa to create havoc. We still need some defensive discipline and I’m sure Moyes is going to target a second midfielder, someone who is able to tackle and cut out dangers by reading the game. I’m not talking about a pure defensive midfielder who never goes past the half way line, but a powerful box to box player like Kevin Strootman.
If we remove wingers then the emphasis will fall on the full backs to join the attack more and provide width. I do believe Moyes will return for Leighton Baines as he is one of the best attacking full backs, shown by the fact that he created more goal scoring chances then any other player in Europe last season. I can see Evra returning to Monaco if we went for Baines.
………………………………..De Gea………………………..
Rafeal………Ferdinand………Evans……..Baines
……………Thiago……..Carrick…..Strootman………
…………………….Rooney………Kagawa……………….
…………………………….Van Persie……………………….
……………………………………….De Gea…………………………….
moyes get that young talent 4 us. Up united
Up united,am will be very hapi to see thiago in united shirt
I luve man u to add liwandoski to club to strenting the team by kilus
We want to see Thiago in red shirt
We already have a defensive midfielder in carrick,what we need is an attacking midfielder so in that case Thiago is the right player to come in,bring hm to old trafford.my plea.
i can’t wait 2 see thiago in a united shirt
yes moyes is good for bringin Tiago acantara to man united bcos midfilder is the major problem we are facing in our team. I tink comin in tiago wil help man u dis season.. God bless united
Old trafford should to afford to pay every thing put on tiago by barca so dat he wil be in red next season.
man u should not try to loss such a wonderful player with high level of quality display, infact man u should do anything to sign thiago,his ability in ball possessing and distribution is excellent, a midfielder who is good in soccering, attacting,in shooting and in control is a good one, so i’m waiting for man u bring thiago to the club.
it is vry bost dat man u get player lik thiego this summer,he a vry fantastic player.
thiago is our united ronaldo……but let try to add this players fellani,baines,garay,stoortman,lewardowski,begovic,bagana,………..and one brasil league winger to be added