The veteran centre-back has been linked with a return to Fluminense (Picture: Getty)
Thiago Silva has hit out at claims he wants to leave Chelsea and return to boyhood club Fluminense and insists he will see out the next year of his contract with the Blues.
The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year extension in February, has been linked with an emotional move back to Fluminense – the club where he revived his career in 2006 after contracting tuberculosis at Dynamo Moscow.
But Silva has now rubbished suggestions he will speak to Chelsea about leaving Stamford Bridge a year early, though he remains keen to finish his career back in Rio de Janeiro eventually.
Speaking to ESPN Brasil after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, Silva said: ‘I have a contract here, right?
‘It’s strange, because several things have come out [in the media] and fans become very passionate. Some curse me on social media, others say “Come soon” and some say “If you don’t come now, don’t come at all”.
‘It’s even boring for me. It’s been only two months since I renewed with Chelsea, if I’m not mistaken, and I’ve always fulfilled my contracts.
‘I only won’t stay here if Chelsea decide they don’t want me for next season, or if the new coach arrives and doesn’t want me to stay.
‘I intend to fulfil the contract that I signed until next year and then, next year, we’ll see what happens.’
Chelsea fans unveiled a tifo for Silva before Saturday’s game (Picture: Getty)
On whether he has had any contact with Fluminense recently, he continued: ‘I’ve always followed them since I left, I’ve always stayed very close. Every time I’m on vacation I go there, I do my training there. I have several friends there.
‘There are many messages getting sent, saying “Come back soon”. There is great anxiety from them, especially when things are coming out in the press, some untruths.
‘I even said to my wife, “I don’t know what meeting they’re talking about claiming I’m close to a return” – there’s nothing!
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‘I spoke with [Fluminense president] Mario [Bittencourt] yes, in January. I spoke with Mario and [director of sports planning] Fred, I spoke about my position and my desires.
‘After that meeting, I still signed my renewal with Chelsea. In fact, that’s exactly what was said at the meeting, that, after another year, there would certainly be a desire to return. And not just to end my career there, but to add something.’
Silva’s wife, Belle, echoed her husband’s message with a post on social media from Stamford Bridge, saying: ‘Guys, I want to thank everyone who came to me for a hug, for a song, “Oh Thiago Silva!”
‘Thanks so much. We, my family, my husband, my children and me, we are very, very happy here in London, in Chelsea. So my family and I are Blue, are Chelsea and we stay here. Go Blues!’
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The veteran centre-back has been linked with a return to Fluminense.
