Chelsea won't deny Thiago Silva a dream return to Fluminense

Cameron Smith

• 12 May 2023 17:15 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea will not stand in Thiago Silva’s way if he wishes to leave the club to re-join Fluminense this summer, following reports of interest from the Brazilian club.

Despite signing a contract extension earlier this year, Silva, 38, has been linked with an emotional return to his homeland after criticising Chelsea’s co-owner Todd Boehly in the wake of the club’s Champions League quarter-final exit to Real Madrid.

Globo have reported Thiago Silva is ready to give up his final season with Chelsea to return to his formative club, and The Telegraph’s Matt Law has revealed that the Blues won’t stand in Silva’s way should he wish to leave the club.

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A transfer back to Fluminense was previously thought to hinge on a deal being struck with Christopher Vivell, Chelsea’s director of football. However, it appears as though the west London club are willing to let the veteran leave.

It’s been reported that Chelsea don’t want the defender to leave, despite the fact that Levi Colwill is set to return from his loan spell at Brighton, with his experience deemed vital in their young squad. But, they will not prevent a move if Silva is keen on returning to Brazil as they were thankful for his service since arriving on a free transfer from PSG in 2020.

Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt and former striker Fred have both approached Silva and raised the possibility of returning to his boyhood club, according to reports.

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Thiago Silva to return to Brazil?

In an interview with Telegraph Sport last year, Silva said: “Fluminense is the club I would like to finish at. It was the club where I played after I had my illness and it’s the club who opened the door for me after that stage and believed in me when nobody thought Thiago Silva would still make it as a player. As incredible as it may seem, it’s the club that I support as well.”

Silva was given a chance to restart his career at Fluminense after he contracted tuberculosis while at Dinamo Moscow in 2005. Aged 21, Silva was hospitalised for six months with the illness, and doctors even considered removing part of his lungs to ensure his survival due to the severity of the incident.

However, his mother and his wife stepped in and prevented surgery, which helped save his football career. Fluminense offered him a return to the club and the rest is history.