Thiago Silva has confirmed that he will leave the Chelsea at the end of the season after four years and over 150 appearances for the Blues. In a video published on the English club’s website, the former AC Milan defender explained:“Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of staying just one year and in the end four years have passed. Not only for me but also for my family. I think that in everything I have done here in these four years, I have always given my all, unfortunately, everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open to be able to return in the near future if in another role here”.
The 39-year-old Brazilian, who arrived from Paris Saint Germain in 2020, initially on a one-year deal, he became a lynchpin at the heart of the defense during a turbulent period of major changes at Chelsea. His first season ended with victory over Manchester City in Porto, when the team won the Champions League for the second time. Since then, Thiago Silva has become a fan favorite as the club has undergone a colossal turnover of players under the guidance of the Clearlake Capital consortium of Todd Boehly. His departure means that, just three years after the victory in Portugal in May 2021, only two players will remain at Stamford Bridge who were part of the manager’s 23-man squad Thomas Tuchel for the final: captain Reece James and vice-captain Ben Chilwell.
This season the coach Mauricio Pochettino started Thiago Silva in 22 of his first 24 Premier League games. He then has been used more sporadically in recent times and has remained on the bench without entering four consecutive games in March and April. Weeks earlier, after the 4-2 home defeat against Wolverhampton at the beginning of February, his wife Belle had loudly called for Pochettino’s sacking, with a controversial post on social media:“It’s time for a change. If you wait any longer, it will be too late”. She later apologized.
At various times, the Argentine coach has faced questions about the failure to use of a central defender who turns 40 in September, but has always insisted that age was not a deciding factor in his decision to leave him on the bench. In fact, under President Boehly, Chelsea is pursuing a policy of hiring perspective players with long-term contracts, choosing to sell those who are older.
A notable detail is that Thiago Silva is more than 10 years behind the second oldest player to have played for the first team this season, 29-year-old Raheem Sterling.
