Chelsea defender makes Thiago Silva admission as next move confirmed

Chelsea's Benoit Badiashile has opened up about the void that will be left by Thiago Silva's departure, acknowledging the Brazilian's significant impact at Stamford Bridge.

Silva, who turns 40 this year, has been a stalwart for Chelsea since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, clocking up over 150 appearances in four seasons and playing a pivotal role in the club's Champions League triumph in 2021. He is now set to make a sentimental return to Fluminense, the club from which he left for his European journey back in 2009.

The veteran defender, with an impressive tally of over 100 international caps for Brazil, has been a standout performer for Chelsea, even clinching the player of the year accolade for the 2022-23 season amidst a turbulent time for the Blues. Badiashile, who joined Chelsea at the beginning of the same season, didn't hold back in praising Silva's mentorship.

«Thiago is a great player and we already know how great he is,» he said about his soon-to-be former teammate. «It will be a great miss for us but we have to continue to work.

»You can see when I play with him I am more confident but I have to try to be the same player without him because he can't be with me throughout my career. He has helped me a lot but I will try to do my best without him."

Silva has expressed his deep affection for Chelsea as he confirmed his departure from the club. Reflecting on a successful four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, he said: «Chelsea means a lot to me. 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.

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