The former Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been one of the major pillars of Hansi Flick’s training staff at FC Barcelona, as he helped the German coach adapt to the Blaugrana club right after his arrival, and then again during his second year in charge of the Catalan team.
However, [he left Flick’s training staff at the of the last season](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/report-reveals-identity-of-hansi-flicks-new-barcelona-fitness-coach/), and it remains to be seen what direction his career would take next. Recently, he appeared in an interview with the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, and as [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20260704/1004202780/thiago-alcantara-lamine-mejor-mundo-proximos-anos.html) has noted, he talked about several aspects of his recent experience at Barcelona in this interview.
One player he talked very highly of was the youngster Lamine Yamal, as he opened up on how impressed he was with the young winger when he used to train him for Barcelona:
**“The good thing about my recent retirement is that I still had the fitness to train with them. In the training matches, he makes the difference. You know that whichever team he’s on is going to win.”**
Thiago also highlighted how his decision-making ability makes him a particularly well-suited player for the modern game:
**“Football is more physical because players are able to make decisions at very high speed… He’s a very mature kid, but he’s living the life he deserves. He’ll decide whether he wants to keep playing at the highest level or simply live his life.”**
Meanwhile, the former midfielder also talked about what he had learned working with Flick:
**“I learned from him how a coach should behave as a human being and how to manage a group.”**
Thiago also named Pedri as the best midfielder in the world right now:
**“Rice plays better as a No. 8, but I’m saving that position for Pedri. He’s the best midfielder in the world. I’ve trained with him first as a player and then as a coach.”**
Lamine Yamal has clearly proven himself as a player cut above the rest with his top-class performances at a very young age. One would have expected one of his former trainers to speak highly of him, but the praise from Thiago is still special, owing to his stature in European football after such a successful career in Europe.
Meanwhile, his words for Pedri would also make every Barcelona fan happy, as they already see him as one of the best midfielders in the world, and the words of another highly successful midfielder, Thiago Ancantara, further back their opinion now.