Chelsea’s Thiago Silva criticised by PSG boss over summer departure

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:45 CDT
• 2 min read

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has criticised Chelsea defender Thiago Silva for the manner in which he departed the club.

Brazil international centre-back Thiago Silva left Paris in the summer on a free transfer after the expiry of his contract. He refused to play in the Champions League Final 8, in which PSG reached the final, and ultimately signed for Chelsea.

Thiago Silva has since thrived for the Blues and has quickly won acclaim for his performances in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, the way he left the Parc des Princes side has left a sour taste in the mouth of the PSG supremo.

“For Thiago Silva, it is me who brought him from Fluminense from Milan where I was on the board,” Leonardo told France Football. “Six months later, I am at the reins and I gave him the keys to the defence with Nesta.

“I then brought him to PSG where he became one of the best defenders in the world. I was his biggest admirer throughout his entire career. But he came to the end of something. Certain things happened last season that I did not like. He knows them because we spoke.”

The 36-year-old centre-back has turned out 17 times for Chelsea and has scored two goals already for the Stamford Bridge club.

Meanwhile, Thiago Silva retains legendary status in the eyes of the PSG fans. He turned out for the club on 315 occasions and is considered to be one of their greatest ever players.

It has been suggested, however, that he was insulted by the prospect of adding mere weeks to his contract prior to the Final 8 before he was to be released. Hence, he departed on poor terms.