“The idea is to stay at PSG and continue to grow the club. The eight years that I have just spent can weigh in the balance. I think I participated in the development of the club. ” This is what Thiago Silva said last November for France Football . In fact, this is the speech that the future ex-captain of Paris Saint-Germain will have held for months each time he was handed a microphone. A real campaign. "My second home is Paris," he said at the end of the year, on beIN SPORTS . I hope that I will be able to stay again… ”A cry from the heart to which it was once believed that Leonardo would be sensitive. Especially in times of crisis. But the heart and "Leo" makes two. "It's a business", he said from PSG, in 2013 on Canal +, evoking the departure of Nene. And to add, imagining a discussion with the latter: "You did very well, you did your job. Now the future is another. It's life." Maybe he took more gloves with "O Monstro". And again, it's not even sure ... In the meantime, he has signaled the end of his Parisian adventure, as L'Equipe said on Monday. Thiago Silva and Paris, it's over.
The Champions League in mind anyway?
Soon finished. The 35-year-old Rio native will have one last opportunity to silence the bad tongues and guide "his" PSG on the roof of Europe, he who has never passed the quarter-final stage of the League champions. No more in Paris than in Milan, Porto or Moscow. Still, the player and his future ex-club should agree to extend the contract between them until June 30 for a few weeks. And that UEFA really goes to the end of its plans to take back the C1. One can especially wonder if the Brazilian defender could give the best of himself in these conditions. Also at the end of the contract, Thomas Meunier said he was “excited for the rest” of the C1. Like Thiago?
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Whatever happens, Thiago Emiliano da Silva will leave an indelible mark on the banks of the Seine. When he landed in 2012, he was THE club's first major international recruit since the Qataris' takeover in 2011. Bombarded entry captain by Carlo Ancelotti, he kept the armband with all the successors of the Mister, Laurent Blanc, Unai Emery and Thomas Tuchel. King of anticipation, intelligent, good of the head, he has everything of a very big. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2012-16) and others, he was able to tip Paris into the big leagues. His achievements speak for him: seven titles of champions of France, four French Cups, five League Cups, seven Champions Trophies, 310 matches (17 goals). Without doubt the best defender in the history of the club, ahead of Jean-Marc Pilorget, Alain Roche, Paul Le Guen, Ricardo and other Marquinhos. And in selection? Captain until the 2014 World Cup and the humiliation against Germany (1-6, he was suspended), then placarded for long months, he gradually returned to business and finally guided the Seleçao to the coronation at Copa America 2019. Boss size, at the head of an ultra solid team.
Symbol of Parisian chess in Europe
In Paris, beyond the national games he has always flown, we will remember his match at Stamford Bridge, against Chelsea (2-2 ap, qualification thanks to a goal by Thiago Silva). We will not forget that he was often one of the two or three best Parisians in many C1 matches, including against Liverpool (2-1). But Thiago Silva, it is also many injuries before important matches. He was also not on the meadow during the demonstration against Barça, on the outward journey, in 2017 (4-0). On the other hand, it is the symbol of the sinking at Camp Nou (6-1) ... "Scouz", he said after a new cataclysm, against Manchester United (1-3), in 2019. Fearing to relive the disaster in Barcelona , Emery had also left him on the bench at the Bernabeu, in 2018, on the outward journey. It had not been very successful (3-1 defeat). But the return of the Brazilian did not really galvanize his own in the second round (0-0).
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He was also criticized a lot for a fragile mentality, like his tears in 2014, against Chile, at the World Cup. Sensitive, not warlike enough, while it takes a hell of a notch to overcome the disease as he did, he who conquered tuberculosis. Not enough unifying either. Moreover, his role as leader has often been vilified by some of his teammates ... on condition of anonymity. Coach Tuchel has never hidden his admiration for the former Fluminense. And it even does what many see as a defect, a quality. “He is an incredible captain, a leader, a model for us, in the locker room and on the field. And it's nice, he swore last November. In addition, he has been playing at an exceptional level since I was there (2018), from the first day. Whether he plays or not, it makes a big difference. For me, age (35) is a subject. But this is not the most important. What matters most is what happens every day, and on the ground. He is an exceptional guy, a very reliable character. He's a fragile personality, but it's good for me, it's his character. ” And the German coach to take a stand for an extension of his player: "I do not want to think of a PSG without him." He will have to get used to it ... At least if he stays!
After Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani?
In the meantime, Thiago Silva still has a few weeks to radically change his image, that of a cursed player who does not have the weapons to allow PSG to really dream bigger, especially on the mental level. First there will be the two cup finals, the Coupe de la Ligue against OL, then the Coupe de France against AS Saint-Etienne. But it is especially in the Champions League that we will wait for Thiago Silva and company at the turn. Maybe in Lisbon, maybe in a tournament picked up over a few days. We will know more after the UEFA “Comex” on June 17 and 18. By then, the future ex-Parisian may have said yes to his next club. The end of an era. Especially since Paris will perhaps lose another monument in its recent history, its short history, with the best scorer in its history, Edinson Cavani ... Charge to Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappé and company, perhaps Neymar Jr, to write an even more beautiful story in the years to come.
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