Thiago Silva’s Potential Return to AC Milan: A Veteran’s Journey

In the summer of 2024, Thiago Silva returned to his roots in Rio de Janeiro, rejoining Fluminense for the third time. Silva began his career at Fluminense’s youth academy and made over 140 appearances for the club from 2006 to 2008.

This initial period with Fluminense paved the way for his first move to Italy, where AC Milan recognized his potential. He played over 100 matches for Milan and became a Serie A champion in the 2010-11 season.

Silva later transitioned to Paris Saint-Germain, where he spent eight successful years before moving to Chelsea in 2020. He celebrated Champions League victory with Chelsea, sharing the pitch with USMNT star Christian Pulisic.

In 2023, Pulisic departed London for Milan. At that time, Silva praised Pulisic, mentioning his talent and the limited playing opportunities he had in Chelsea’s previous season. Pulisic has since thrived at AC Milan, becoming a key player and achieving personal bests in goal-scoring.

According to La Repubblica, AC Milan is exploring the possibility of re-signing Silva, who last played for the club 13 years ago. The team is seeking an experienced center-back as the January transfer window approaches. Despite having defenders like Matteo Gabbia, Strahinja Pavlovic, and Fikayo Tomori, Milan desires an additional proven player following missed opportunities to sign Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez.

Recent reports indicate that Silva’s return is gaining momentum, as he is viewed as a candidate to enhance the leadership and stability of Massimiliano Allegri’s defensive lineup. Silva previously collaborated with Allegri during his time at Milan and has demonstrated remarkable performance at Fluminense, making 41 appearances this season and scoring three goals while contributing to a semi-final run in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Silva’s contract with Fluminense extends until the summer of 2026. The veteran defender, who has earned 113 caps for Brazil, has expressed a desire to retire at the pinnacle of his career. He contemplates stepping away from football, stating that recovery has become increasingly taxing and that he wishes to leave the sport while still performing at a high level.

He remarked, “I think every player would like to stop at their peak, still feeling good and delivering positive results. I wouldn’t want to stop at a moment when, suddenly, someone like Kaio Jorge easily gets past me, scores a goal, and we become a laughing stock. I intend to stop at a good level, performing well. That’s my thinking.”

Whenever the time comes for Silva to retire, he will leave behind an impressive legacy with over 860 club appearances, having won titles in the Champions League, Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Club World Cup, in addition to earning Olympic medals.