Thiago Silva expressed his gratitude to Chelsea fans for their affection after they honored him during their final pre-season match against Inter Milan.
Chelsea ended the match with a 1-1 draw against Inter on Sunday afternoon, concluding their preparations for the 2024/25 season under Enzo Maresca.
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Marcus Thuram scored first at Stamford Bridge, but Lesley Ugochukwu’s equalizer in the 90th minute ensured the Blues didn’t finish the summer on a sour note.
This summer has seen significant changes at Chelsea, with Maresca taking over from Mauricio Pochettino and several high-profile players leaving, some of whom fans are unhappy to see depart.
Among them are Conor Gallagher, who is on the verge of moving to Atletico Madrid, and Silva, whose four-year tenure at Chelsea ended last season.
The iconic Brazilian defender departed when his contract expired and returned to his former club, Fluminense. Many fans were dismayed to see him leave, especially since Chelsea’s defense is now missing a seasoned leader.
This sentiment was evident early in the Inter match when fans chanted for the 39-year-old.
Silva clearly valued the tribute, responding to an Instagram post from a Chelsea fan account that covered the tribute with a simple: ‘I love you’.
Signed by Frank Lampard on a free transfer in 2020, the experienced centre-back became a key figure for Chelsea over the next four years, making 155 appearances.
He demonstrated that age is just a number by winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup, while also leading his team to two FA Cup finals and one League Cup final.
His departure leaves Maresca with several promising centre-backs who have yet to consistently perform, including Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo.
