Chelsea fans showed their thanks to Thiago Silva ahead of the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. It is a game that could prove to be his second last at the ground after reports that he will be allowed to move on from the club this summer should he want a return to Brazil.
Silva signed a new one-year deal earlier this year having turned 38 throughout this campaign. Having moved to London for free in 2020 he has already gone on to rack up over 100 appearances for the club, more than anyone expected when he left Paris Saint-Germain already in the dawn of his career.
Not only has he added experience and much-needed seniority to the squad this term, he has also been an outstanding performer throughout his time in the Premier League. It appeared that he would clock up more minutes in the league for the third season in a row but any hopes of that were dented by a lengthy injured in February.
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Although his effective rolling 12-month extension has already been agreed it was reported by the Telegraph that a move away would not be hampered in the summer if he made it clear that he wanted to call time on his playing days in England. With the club looking to overhaul the squad they are expected to bring back young loanee Levi Colwill and have already shown interest in other major defenders across Europe.
These deals aren't likely to be pursued by Chelsea should Silva stay, though. Given the standing in-which Colwill is held at Cobham and Benoit Badiahsile's impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge, there is ample cover at the back, especially without European football to contend with.
Therefore, when the Brazilian entered the pitch against Forest he was greeted with a banner in honour of his achievements with the club. The first, held up in the shed end, showed him pointing to the badge with a background of the national team flag whilst the second, displayed in the Matthew Harding End, was an ode to him with the words from his chant, reading: "he came from PSG, to win the Champions League."
It was also noticeable that his name was sung throughout the game despite conceding two goals.
Fans also showed their appreciation for Joao Felix when he was taken off. The 23-year-old was applauded off by a depleted Stamford Bridge crowd with Kai Havertz coming on in his place. The German got the nod against Bournemouth last week but in a reverse of the substitute against Forest, Felix came on and scored on the south coast.
He failed to properly impact proceedings before making what may also be his own last game at SW6. His loan deal is up at the end of the season and despite the possibility of Felix rejoining on another temporary move, the future remains very much up in the air.
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