Thiago Silva wants to play until he’s in his forties before retiring from his old club Fluminense.
The Chelsea defender, who will turn 38 in the early stages of next season, is under contract until the end of the 2022/23 season after enjoying a career resurrection at Stamford Bridge.
Silva, who is still a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s defence ahead of today’s FA Cup final, has no plans to retire.
“It’s very difficult to talk about the future because you never know what’s going to happen, but in my mind I’m projecting myself to play until I’m 40,” he told the Telegraph.
“I don’t know if I’m going to get there, you never know with these things, but that’s what I’m preparing for in my mind.”
Silva began his career in Brazil before moving to Porto as a youngster and being hospitalized for TB. After recovering his health after considering retirement, he signed with Fluminense and flourished before returning to Europe.
“Fluminense is the club I would like to finish at,” he added.
“It was the club where I played after I had my illness and it’s the club that opened the door for me after that stage and believed in me when nobody thought Thiago Silva would still make it as a player.” As incredible as it may seem, it’s the club that I support as well. ”