Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick says the club are saying a "very emotional" goodbye to Thiago Alcantara as the Spanish midfielder prepares to complete his move to Liverpool.
The Reds have agreed a deal to bring the 29-year-old to Anfield, with Thiago set to sign a four-year deal in a transfer that will cost his new club a guaranteed £20million, with just £5million paid upfront.
The signing will bring an end to a saga which has unfolded over the summer for the Reds, with Jurgen Klopp determined to sign a player who won seven Bundesliga titles in seven seasons in Germany.
He also clinched the Champions League in what proved to be his final game for the club, the 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Lisbon final last month, and Flick says the club are disappointed to lose him.
"Thiago is an extraordinary player and was very important for us," said Flick at a press conference ahead of Friday's Bundesliga clash with Schalke which will herald the start of the new German season.
"My coaching team and I enjoyed working with him. It was very emotional as we said goodbye. I can only congratulate Liverpool as they got a great player and especially a great person.
"Thiago gave the team a lot of options and made us unpredictable, he solved things in ways you don't expect. Now we're losing yet another great player."
The former Barcelona midfielder is expected on Merseyside to complete his medical over the next day or so, and he will take the No.6 shirt which has been vacated by Dejan Lovren this summer.
He could then make his debut in next Thursday's Carabao Cup third round tie at Lincoln City.
