Chelsea and Thiago Silva parted ways at the end of the 2023/24 season, with the club not offering the defender a new contract.
At 39, Silva was not getting any younger, and Chelsea’s sporting directors made it their aim to bring the average age of the squad down.
In the end, Silva was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer, but two years later, it is quite obvious that the Blues made a huge mistake letting him go.
Would you take Filipe Luis as manager with Thiago Silva as assistant?🤔
They've been hanging out together in London!
Filipe Luis and Thiago Silva together
Instagram – thiagosilva
Thiago Silva could play at World Cup at 41 years of age
Not one individual at Chelsea can claim that Silva is past it. Earlier this week, it was reported that the central defender has been included in Brazil’s 55-man preliminary squad for this summer’s World Cup.
It gives Silva a chance of being named in Carlo Ancelotti’s final 26-man squad on Monday, meaning that he could play at the tournament at the age of 41.
It remains to be seen whether Silva will make the final cut, but the mere fact that one of the world’s best managers is considering him for the biggest tournament in football shows that the Porto man is still good enough to play for Chelsea.
Croatia v Brazil -World Cup
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
All things considered, the Club World Cup winners should never have let Silva go, and his inclusion in Brazil’s provisional squad is more evidence that they got their call wrong.
Yes, Chelsea have missed Silva’s experience and leadership, but they are also missing his football ability, which is still clearly there. Had it not been, Ancelotti would not have been considering him for the World Cup.
Thiago Silva still shining in top European league
Silva is now at Porto and has done well there. He has helped Francesco Farioli’s side to win the Portuguese league after joining them in December.
According to WhoScored, the Brazilian is making 3.4 clearances per game, which is the second-highest average in Porto’s squad.
He is also winning 2.1 aerial duels per game, which is again the second-highest average among Porto’s players.
Silva was recently at Stamford Bridge, watching Chelsea fall to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
He still clearly has love for the Blues, more than those at the club have for him.
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