Joao Cancelo holds the opinion that Thiago Silva of Chelsea outshines Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol in defensive prowess.
Gvardiol, who joined Manchester City from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £77.6 million, has become a mainstay at left-back under Guardiola, featuring in 39 matches across various competitions for the current Premier League title-holders.
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The young Croatian, aged 22, has also showcased his scoring talent in the 2023/24 season, bagging a brace in City’s dominant 4-0 victory against Fulham last Saturday.
Gvardiol was presented with an opportunity to be the first defender to score a Premier League hat-trick but opted out of taking a penalty in the match at Craven Cottage.
Yet, despite Gvardiol’s commendable showings for City this term, Cancelo, currently on loan at Barcelona from Man City, places Silva ahead of him.
During a Shoot For Love YouTube segment, the Portuguese defender positioned Gvardiol tenth and Thiago Silva at the pinnacle.
Silva’s illustrious career is decorated with significant silverware, including the Champions League and Club World Cup titles secured during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, following his transfer from Paris Saint Germain in August 2020.
The veteran Brazilian, at 39, is set to bid farewell to Chelsea when his contract concludes this summer. He plans to return to his roots, joining Brazilian side Fluminense post Chelsea’s season finale against Bournemouth on Sunday.
“Chelsea means a lot to me,” he admitted in a heartfelt message to the fans. “I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years. Not just for me but for my family, too.
“My sons play for Chelsea so it is a source of great pride to be a part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players wish to be part of.
“[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Goodbyes are for those that leave and don’t come back. I intend on coming back one day…”
