After being serenaded by Chelsea fans during their last preseason match against Inter Milan, Thiago Silva thanked them for their support.
As Enzo Maresca’s team completed their preparations for the 2024–25 season, Chelsea and Inter drew 1–1.
Lesley Ugochukwu’s goal in the 90th minute of play guaranteed that the Blues did not conclude the summer vacation on a negative note, even if Marcus Thuram had opened the scoring at Stamford Bridge.
West London has seen yet another summer of significant upheaval as Maresca took over as manager in place of Mauricio Pochettino. A number of prominent players have also left the team, some of whom the fans are not too thrilled to see go.
This includes the likes of Conor Gallagher, who is set to complete a transfer to Atletico Madrid, as well as Silva whose four year stay at the Bridge came to an end at the end of last season.
The legendary Brazil defender left upon the expiry of his contract and has returned to boyhood club Fluminense, though some fans were very sad to see him go especially as it’s left Chelsea’s defence without an experienced leader.
That point was made very clear early on in the Inter match when fans sang the 39-year-old’s chant.
And Silva himself clearly appreciated the gesture, replying to an Instagram post from a Chelsea fan account that reported on the singing.
He simply replied: ‘I love you’.
Signed by Frank Lampard on a free in 2020, the veteran centre-back became a mainstay in Chelsea’s team for the next four years, making 155 appearances for the club.
He would prove age is just a number, winning the Champions League, UEFA SuperCup and Club World Cup, as well as help his team reach the finals of the FA Cup (twice) and League Cup.
His departure leaves Maresca with a handful of promising centre-backs who are yet to consistently deliver, namely Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo.