Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season, but has said he is interested in returning in the future, potentially as a manager.
The 39-year-old Brazilian joined the club on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and has remained a vital member of the team throughout his four years, starting in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Silva suffered a groin problem in that comeback at Villa Park, raising the possibility that it was his last appearance in the blue shirt.
Silva has now revealed he will be leaving in the summer, describing in a statement his “indescribable love” for the club he originally only planned to represent for one year when he signed.
‘Chelsea means a lot to me. “I came here with the intention of staying only one year and in the end it was four years,” he said via Chelsea’s website. ‘Not only for me but also for my family.
Thiago Silva has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea at the end of the current campaign.
My children play for Chelsea, so it is a great pride to be part of the Chelsea family, literally because my children are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players want to be a part of.
‘I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave it my all. But, unfortunately, everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean this is a definitive ending. I hope to leave the door open to be able to return in the near future, albeit in another role here.’
Chelsea supporters group We Are The Shed are preparing a special display for the final home game of the season (against Bournemouth on May 19) and Silva continued: “It’s hard enough to say goodbye under the most normal of circumstances.” , but when there is a mutual union.” Love, it’s even more difficult. But a blue one, always blue.
‘Because of the way I arrived at the club, with the support of the club, I arrived at the club as a leader although I didn’t feel like arriving as the new boy. It’s always difficult to integrate, but little by little I integrated into the group and (Frank) Lampard played an important role in that. I’m grateful to him for that.
‘(It has been a) dream, definitely a dream. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, in one of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘Farewells are for those who leave and do not return. I intend to return one day.
As a result, Mauricio Pochettino loses his only regular first-team starter over the age of 30, with Marcus Bettinelli the only other player reaching that age in the team, but he is only a third-choice goalkeeper.
The next oldest player is Raheem Sterling at 29 years old, followed by Ben Chilwell, 27 years old, and Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez, 26 years old.