Villas-Boas letter convinces Thiago Silva to rejoin FC Porto | OneFootball

The newspaper O Jogo publishes this Wednesday the letter sent by André Villas-Boas to Thiago Silva, in which the coach convinces him to return to FC Porto. Thiago had a brief stint at the club in 2005, during which he was diagnosed with a severe lung disease (later identified as tuberculosis), which led him to consider quitting football at just 20 years old.

“Dear Thiago, there are paths in football that are measured not only by the games played, but by the courage, resilience, and inner strength that a player carries with them. Yours is one of those rare stories, a story that transcends the game itself. Many years ago, destiny brought you to FC Porto, a defender full of ambition, humility, and a talent that everyone recognized. But that same destiny put you through a tough and unexpected test,” it reads.

“The diagnosis of the disease that took you away from the field, from your dreams, and inevitably from FC Porto, before your story here could truly begin. And yet, you fought. You rebuilt yourself. You were already a great player – and you became one of the best in the world. You reached the top of world football as an admired leader, both on and off the field,” it continues.

“You inspired millions by turning a cruel adversity into a story of overcoming and greatness. And destiny, the same that took you away from us at the beginning, would, years later, bring you back to our stadium in an unforgettable way, as you lifted the Champions League in this city and in our home. An eternal moment, recorded in history and also in the hearts of Porto fans, who saw a former ‘one of ours’ achieve an immense feat,” it concludes.

“Along with this letter, I offer you, then, an FC Porto jersey with the infinity symbol”

The president of FC Porto emphasized, however, that “there is still something unfinished,” as his “cycle” at Dragão “was never closed”: “Today, we want to tell you that this chapter can finally find its conclusion. Not just as a player, but as a man, whose story began here and deserves to return to the place where it was interrupted. The young man who had to leave can return as the legend he has become.”

“For us, it would be an immense honor and privilege. Along with this letter, I offer you, then, an FC Porto jersey with the infinity symbol. This symbol represents what has always existed between you and this club, a connection that was never broken, even in the most difficult moments. Infinity is continuity, return, destiny. It is a reminder that certain stories do not disappear, they wait,” he emphasized.

“They wait for the right moment to be completed. Thiago, it would be an honor for us to open the doors of FC Porto to you once again. Not just to play, but to close a cycle that the disease tried to interrupt and could not, to leave the mark you never could, and to inspire a new generation with your example, your voice, and your leadership,” he added.

“Regardless of the path you choose, never forget: FC Porto is part of your story – and our Home will always be open to you. With admiration and deep respect, André Villas-Boas,” concludes the ‘charm mission’ that ultimately led to the signing of Thiago Silva, following the end of his contract with Fluminense.

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