Thiago Silva questions Ancelotti overhaul, backs experienced players

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·9 September 2026

Thiago Silva questions Ancelotti overhaul, backs experienced players

Fluminense center-back Thiago Silva criticized Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to carry out a major overhaul of the Brazilian national team after the 2026 World Cup. In an interview with Rádio Tupi after Fluminense’s 2-0 win over Platense on Tuesday (8), the defender argued that experienced players should continue to be assessed based on their current form.

The statement came after Ancelotti indicated that the defeat to Norway in the World Cup round of 16 marked the end of a generation’s cycle. Players such as Neymar, Danilo, Alex Sandro, and Casemiro, all over 30, have now seen their futures with the national team called into question.

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Thiago Silva, who played in four World Cups for Brazil and was still representing the national team at 39, said that age should not be used as a criterion to push aside players who are performing well.

“Do you want me to lie or tell the truth? You can’t rule out someone who is 31, 32, 33. I almost went to the World Cup at 41. You can’t rule out someone who is in great form. With the Brazilian national team, things have to be done slowly. You can’t take everyone out and put in new players. It has to be step by step. It’s very difficult to be a Brazilian national team player; it’s very different from club football. He comes from European football, where it’s easier to do that. Here it doesn’t work like that. You need to make changes and get results. And if possible, play well. I don’t like that kind of change. I don’t agree, but he’s the one in charge.”

The defender also stressed that playing for the Brazilian national team requires a different process from the one found at club level. For Thiago, the pressure and responsibility that come with wearing Brazil’s shirt make a more gradual transition between generations necessary.

The relationship between the center-back and Ancelotti also goes back a long way. The two worked together at Milan, when Thiago Silva left Fluminense in 2008 to play in Italian football. The partnership lasted one season, before the coach left the Italian club for Chelsea.

At 41, Thiago Silva remains one of the main leaders in Fluminense’s squad. For the Brazilian national team, the center-back has made 113 appearances and scored seven goals, in addition to winning the 2019 Copa América and the 2013 Confederations Cup.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.