After Marcelo returned to Fluminense, another fans’ dream came true: Thiago Silva is back at the club after 16 seasons. Created by Xerém and idol of Milan and Chelsea, Italy and England, the 39-year-old defender signed a contract until June 2026 and will arrive as Tricolor’s main signing for this season.
Voz do Setorista: what you need to know about Thiago Silva’s return to Fluminense
The player will arrive in Rio de Janeiro to join the squad in about a month, after the end of his contract with Chelsea and complete the procedures for his move. The international window opens on July 10th. Thus, the new number 3 will be able to play from the 18th round of the Brasileirão and will be able to compete in the round of 16 of the Conmebol Libertadores and Copa do Brasil, if the Fluminense achieve classification in both competitions.
There is a chance that Thiago will be released before May 19th. Fluminense’s idea, as with Marcelo, is for the defender to be presented at Maracanã.
See Thiago Silva’s 14 goals for Fluminense
Repatriating Thiago Silva was a long-time desire of Fluminense, and the defender has also revealed his desire to retire at the club. Throughout 2023, even coach Fernando Diniz joined the chorus in favor of signing the player. With Nino’s departure in December, the idol once again became a target.
In March, information emerged that Thiago Silva would not renew his contract with Chelsea. At the Libertadores draw, on the 18th of the same month, Fred – Fluminense’s idol and sports planning director – revealed that Mário Bittencourt had weekly conversations with the defender. Days later, the club president reinforced the “huge desire for Thiago to return home”.
Fluminense agrees to sign defender Thiago Silva
Last Monday, Thiago Silva made his departure from Chelsea official at the end of the 2023/2024 season. In a video, he highlighted that he “intends to return one day” to the club where he won the Champions League and the Club World Cup. The fact is that, with the non-renewal of the contract, the path was opened for an agreement with Fluminense.
President Mário Bittencourt centralized the conversations, and the matter was treated with the same secrecy as the signing of Marcelo, given the relevance of the two players. With an official proposal from Fluminense on the table, Thiago began debating the matter with people close to him in recent days, inaugurating a new phase in the negotiation. Previously, he preferred not to discuss the topic.
On Friday, Thiago, his representatives and Fluminense reached an agreement that anticipates the signing of a two-year contract, until June 2026. Tricolor beat competition from clubs in England and Saudi Arabia.
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