Mauricio Pochettino could break Chelsea transfer rule for Thiago Silva replacement after Man Utd
At 39 years old, Thiago Silva continues to break records at Chelsea. He is already the oldest outfield player in the club's history and consistently questions the very understanding of biology, ageing and physiology that many go by.
He is the oldest player in Mauricio Pochettino's squad by over ten years. He is more than 12 years the senior of the third oldest team member Ben Chilwell and has lived for over two decades longer than the youngest player to feature in a game for the club this season in the league — Deivid Washington.
Even starting a handful of games at this level and his age would be something to behold and to praise. Ryan Giggs, who played at the age of 40 in England, managed less than 1,700 minutes in his final two years combined before retirement. Teddy Sheringham is the oldest outfielder ever to feature in the league and didn't get more than 1,800 in his last 24 months.
Giggs made 18 starts and Sheringham 15 in that time, Silva has already racked up 15 this term alone, playing every minute of every league game so far. The reliance that Pochettino has in him has extended beyond even that of Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter before him. He is nearly 70% of the way to achieving a fourth consecutive 2,000 minute season since arriving in 2020.
The debate over whether Silva should still be this central to plans has been a common one throughout his time at Stamford Bridge. After the 5-2 loss to West Brom in his first year, the issue was raised and has been a bubbling topic of conversation ever since. As his record stands more and more above the rest, it is once more something being spoken of.
Silva, despite but also maybe because he is surrounded by players in their late teens and early twenties at
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