Thiago Silva says his return to Fluminense was a ‘call’ and reveals his wife’s reaction

The wait is over: Thiago Silva is back at Fluminense!

The signing of the defender was announced this Tuesday (07). The defender, who is at the end of his contract with Chelsea, will return to the Laranjeiras team after the opening of the international window, on July 10th, with a contract valid until June 2026.

“Very happy to be returning home,” said the defender during a live broadcast on the club’s Instagram. “I can’t wait to disembark in Rio and start the work and, consequently, on the field, start in the best possible way.”

Accompanied by Mario Bittencourt, president of the club, Thiago Silva did not hide the weight of returning to defend his favorite team, and revealed how the conversation with his family went for him to return to Brazilian football at this time.

“It was a call-up. Very happy to be able to return, we had been talking over the months, it was a difficult decision on a personal and family level. My greatest asset is my family, I’m going to leave them here for a moment. Isabelle [esposa] super understood. She said to me: ‘Where do you want to go? Where do you want to be happy?’. For those who judged, she was the first person to say she could go. She will be mother and father for a moment, but we will be more and more united.”

To repatriate Thiago Silva, Fluminense overcame strong competition.

A ESPN found that the defender still had offers, mainly from England. However, the Brazilian’s desire to return to Tricolor weighed heavily.

“I can’t wait to go back and have this reunion. Play the image of Marcelo’s presentation, the film. My last game at Maracanã was exciting, I entered with my son when he was 20 days old, today he is 15 years old. It will be incredible to enter Maracanã, try to repeat the photo with him on your lap, the image will travel the world. Flattered to wear that shirt again. How heavy she is, how special she is. How many players wanted to wear the shirt and couldn’t, and I’ll be able to for the second time.”

See other points of the conversation on Fluminense’s Instagram

“I retired him (Diniz in 2004). Diniz is a special guy, I have great affection for him. Despite the short time at Juventude, we didn’t have that much rapport, he was older, I was arriving. There’s usually this difference in friendship. He always respected me, incredible skill and technique.”

“When I see Fluminense play, I see Diniz’s face. He liked to play that way. Who can add to this team, add to the players. They were sending messages: ‘Come home, Monster.’ Manoel, Martinelli. These guys will definitely help me get started and get there well.”

“I even got goosebumps. The first thing that came to mind was my debut at Maracanã. It was a 2-0 against América-RJ. It was the first time I saw my family in the stands, they shouted my name, it felt like they were on my side on the field. That sound ‘Thiago, Thiago’ stayed in my head. When I put on the shirt, the old Maracanã came, my family, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law. It’s definitely in my mind. It took 16 years, but in this whole process I was able to confirm and be sure that I would return home.”

“Now it’s done, everyone knows, now I’m more relaxed. Three more games for Chelsea. Chelsea remained loyal to us in our agreement. From the first moment of the message, the response was: ‘Thiago, feel free, we are here to help’. I would like to thank you, you made everything easier.”

Thiago Silva played three professional seasons for Fluminense before moving on to Milan, from Italy. Between 2006 and 2008, the tricolor idol played in 146 matches, scored 14 goals and was part of the champion squad of Brazil’s Cup 2007.

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