If Barcelona could go back in time, one mistake they would surely want to reverse is letting Thiago Alcantara join Bayern Munich.

The diminutive playmaker has revealed just why he left Camp Nou back in 2013 having grown frustrated with a lack of playing time.

The 27-year-old has since gone on to become a huge success with the Bundesliga giants, winning five straight league titles and emerging as one of the finest midfielders on the planet.

Speaking to SER on Wednesday, he said: “I have always wanted to play and since that wasn’t possible with Barça I had to leave to find the joy in playing football again.

“To me playing is more important than winning a trophy, in the end, you always ask yourself ‘To what extent I have contributed to the win?’.”

Thiago is currently away on international duty with Spain and will take on Wales and England over the next week.