Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Split image - Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Lamine Camara of AS Monaco passes the ball
Split image - Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Lamine Camara of AS Monaco passes the ball
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images
Photo by Pedro H. Tesch/Getty Images
Photo by Pedro H. Tesch/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Silva returned to Brazilian side Fluminense, went to Porto, and then returned to Fluminense, where he is still playing. The 113-time Brazil star turned 42 in September, but Willian thinks Chelsea need him back.
Chelsea legend Thiago Silva leaves Porto and is now a free agent
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Speaking on the Obi One podcast, Willian raved about the veteran defender: “I think so. Thiago Silva is one of the best players I played with. His quality is unbelievable. I think he can play in any team.
Mikel asked: “Back at Chelsea?”, to which Willian replied: “If I was the owner, I’d put him back straight away. Maybe not every game, but to have him in the team, the young players. Unbelievable player”.
Silva might be his friend, but Willian speaks a lot of sense
Silva is still performing at a very solid level, but that’s not the point. If he were to rejoin Chelsea, it would be as a back-up option, much like Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, who joined in the summer.
Chelsea have an elder statesman in goal, in central midfield, and up top – in Martinez, Henderson and Welbeck. At centre-back, Chelsea lack a leader, and Silva would be the ideal man to provide leadership.
Silva’s contract at Fluminense ends on New Year’s Eve. It would allow Chelsea to sign him on a pre-deal arrangement, which would see him join the club in January. It might seem silly, but Chelsea need Silva.