Liverpool youngster suggests Thiago Alcantara was giving him ‘daily lessons’ on how to play football

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Former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has announced his retirement from football.

It has been a difficult past 18 months or so for Thiago, who has barely been able to get on the pitch for the Reds.

Having played just five minutes during his final campaign at Anfield, it has been common knowledge for a long while that Thiago would depart once the season came to a close.

However, the news that the Spaniard has called time on his career aged just 33 was still a relative shock.

Following a glittering career which ultimately ended at Liverpool, message of support have been pouring in from around the football world, including from the Reds first-team squad.

Stefan Bajcetic set to miss Thiago ‘lessons’

For now, the overarching feeling at Liverpool is disappointment at not having seen more of Thiago across four seasons.

However, when the midfielder’s career is looked back on in the years to come, Reds fans will no doubt realise that they were fortunate to see one of the most gifted players of his generation feature 98 times for the club.

Given how little he played over the past year, the injury issues are what come to the mind when thinking about Thiago’s Liverpool career. But it should be said that there were some real high points.

Funnily, one moment that will live long in the memory is his return to training earlier this year. Having missed almost 12 months, Thiago being involved at the AXA Training Centre in January invoked a huge reaction from the fanbase.

READ MORE: Thiago Alcantara set to get coaching job offer after leaving Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp raved about Thiago in training and it seems as though the rest of the first-team squad were equally as pleased to see him, too.

One player in particular who had become close to Liverpool’s No.6 was Stefan Bajcetic. Bajcetic’s father was a former teammate of Thiago’s dad once upon a time at Celta Vigo. As a result, the older man took the young midfielder under his wing.

And after Thiago confirmed his retirement with a post on Instagram on Monday, Bajcetic made a comment which will both sadden and warm the hearts of fans.

“I will miss your daily lessons on how to play this sport,” wrote the 19-year-old.

Hopefully he’s still managed to learn a fair bit from one of the finest technicians of a generation.

Alexis Mac Allister says goodbye to Thiago

As well as Bajcetic’s tribute to Thiago, there were plenty more reactions from the Liverpool squad.

Thiago played for three huge sides during his career and called some of the best players in history his teammates. For Liverpool though, it’s perhaps a player who he did not manage to play next to who will linger in the memory.

Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago would have been a superbly classy midfield partnership. Despite being on the books at Liverpool together for a full season though, they never shared a pitch.

This is something Mac Allister has now voiced his regret about, in a typically posed comment on Instagram.

“I’ll stay wanting to play next to you but some drills were enough to see what you’re capable of with a soccer ball up close,” writes the 25-year-old. “Thank you for everything you gave to football and good luck in this new stage of your life!”

All the best Thiago, thanks for everything. Hopefully we’ll see you back at Anfield some day.