Thiago Alcantara extends Bayern Munich contract until 2019
Thiago Alcantara has signed a new four-year contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Thiago, 24, has made just 13 league starts since being signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2013 after being dogged by injuries.
The midfielder has come off the bench in both of Bayern's opening Bundesliga games this campaign, and played 74 minutes of the German Super Cup victory over Wolfsburg at the start of the month.
He is now tied to the Allianz Arena until the end of the 2018-19 season.
"We are delighted that Thiago has decided for a long-term future at Bayern. He is young and an important player for the future of the club," Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club's official website.
The Spain international had been coach Pep Guardiola's marquee signing in 2013, but has made a total of only 41 appearances in all competitions, and missed the majority of 2014-15 with a severe knee injury suffered in March 2014.
German tabloid Bild broke the news of the deal late on Wednesday, and said that the contract could be the first indicator that Guardiola could extend his own stay beyond next summer when his own contract expires.
The paper said Bayern's bosses are "slightly optimistic" of convincing Guardiola to stay at the club at least until 2017.
