Thiago
Silva will leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
Silva, 39, joined the Premier League side on a free transfer from Paris
Saint-Germain in August 2020 and has made 151 appearances, winning the
Champions League, Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
The Brazil defender was substituted in the 90th minute during Chelsea's 2-2
draw at Aston Villa last Saturday with a groin injury, raising the
possibility that it was his last appearance for the club.
In an emotional message to supporters, Silva said he hoped to return to the
club "in another role" soon: "Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with
the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years.
Not just for me but for my family, too.
"My sons play for Chelsea so it's a source of great pride to be a part of
the Chelsea family - literally because my sons are here. I hope they can
continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish
to be part of.
"I think in everything I did here over the four years, I always gave my all.
But, unfortunately, everything has a start, a middle and an end. That
doesn't mean that this is a definitive end. I hope to leave the door open so
that in the near future I can return, albeit in another role here. But…it's
an indescribable love. I can only say thank you."
Silva added: "Obviously, when I started here, it was during the pandemic so
there weren't any fans in the stadium. But through social media, it became
something very special to me and then when the fans started coming back to
the stadium and life was getting back to normal, I started to feel a lot of
affection and respect for my story and for my start here.
"It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but
when there is a mutual love, it's even harder. But once a Blue, always a
Blue.
"The way in which I came to the club, with the support of the club, I got to
the club as a leader even though I didn't feel like it having arrived as the
new guy. It's always difficult to integrate but bit by bit I became part of
the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big part in that. I am grateful to
him for that.
"[It's been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even 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, at one of the biggest clubs in
the world.
"Goodbyes are for those that leave and don't come back. I intend on coming
back one day..."
'Silva will be a coach, for sure'
Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson told Sky Sports:
"I have been watching Thiago Silva play since I was young - he's one of the
most inspirational defenders in the world.
"To come and be in the same dressing room as him, play with him, him
offering me advice, was a pleasure.
"We wish we could be with him for more years and hopefully have won
something but it was not possible. We wish him and his family luck in what
he wants to do in his career.
"He'll be a coach for sure. He's an inspiration to young people."
Silva exit marks further changes under
Boehly
Silva's first season ended with victory over Manchester City in Porto as
Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time, and the 113-cap Brazil
international has since endeared himself to supporters with the club
undergoing a colossal turnover in personnel under Todd Boehly's Clearlake
Capital consortium.
His departure means that, just three years on from that victory in Portugal
in May 2021, there will be only two players left at Chelsea who were part of
then-manager Thomas Tuchel's 23-man squad for the final - captain Reece
James and vice-captain Ben Chilwell.
Mauricio Pochettino started Silva in 22 of his first 24 Premier League games
in charge but he has been used more sporadically of late and was an unused
substitute in four consecutive matches in March and April.
Weeks earlier, following a 4-2 home defeat to Wolves at the start of
February, Silva's wife Belle appeared to call for Pochettino to be sacked,
posting on social media: "It's time to change. If you wait any longer it
will be too late." She later apologised.
The manager has faced questions about the viability of using a central
defender who will be 40 in the first weeks of next season but has insisted
age has not been a factor in his decision to leave him on the bench.
Under Boehly, Chelsea have pursued a policy of signing young players on long
contracts, while more experienced squad members have been moved on.
Silva has more than 10 years on the next oldest player to have made a
first-team appearance this season, 29-year-old Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea's remaining fixtures
May 2: Tottenham (H) - Premier League, kick-off 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports
May 5: West Ham (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm
May 11: Nottingham Forest (A) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky
Sports
May 15: Brighton (A) - Premier League, kick-off 7.45pm
May 19: Bournemouth (H) - Premier League, kick-off 4pm
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