Thiago Silva considers Europe return after Fluminense knockout | OneFootball

Thiago Silva is under contract with Fluminense until the 2026 World Cup, but he may not see out the deal.

The defender said goodbye to his teammates in the dressing room after Fluminense were knocked out of the Copa do Brasil by Vasco da Gama.

One of Tricolor’s standout performers in 2025 and during the semi-final tie against Vasco, Thiago Silva was unable to prevent elimination in the penalty shoot-out, despite successfully converting his own spot-kick. Sunday’s match may well have been the final appearance for the 41-year-old club icon.

Separated from his family, who remain in London - where his son Isago recently signed his first professional contract with Chelsea - Thiago Silva addressed the squad after the defeat and left open the possibility of departing Fluminense to return to Europe and be closer to his wife and children.

While no final decision has been made, the option has been discussed internally for several months. Thiago is keen to reunite with his family and, despite harbouring hopes of featuring at the World Cup, he has not been called up by Carlo Ancelotti and is unlikely to be included in the squad next year.

Despite his age and the approach of retirement, Thiago Silva could yet choose to continue playing, at least until the World Cup. Milan have already made enquiries about the defender, who remains a club icon there. Chelsea have also left the door open for Silva, though a return as a player appears unlikely. Instead, the club are keen to tap into the Brazilian’s experience off the pitch. Tricolor have long been aware of his desire to move into coaching, and his first steps could come at Chelsea, either as an assistant or within the academy setup.