Thiago Silva says his family will have a say in whether he extends his stay with Chelsea after manager Graham Potter insisted that the defender has his fate in his own hands.
The 38-year-old will see his current deal expire at the end of the season but continues to put in brilliant performances despite his advancing years.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash against former club AC Milan, Silva explained his approach to his contract situation.
“It is probably not the right time to talk about contracts,” he said at the San Siro.
“What I can tell you is, for me it is important to continue playing at the highest level and help the team achieve the highest possible results.
“The time will come to talk and it could be time before or after the World Cup. I need to decide my contract for my family arrangements and it is not easy. We will see what will happen.”
Potter rested Silva at the weekend, sighting a slight cold as the reason for his absence from the 3-0 win over Wolves.
However, he is back and likely to start in Italy as boss Potter explained his approach to the veteran’s future.
“The decision is Thiago's,” he stated. “I've been here three or four weeks and I see his qualities. He is an incredible person and player.
“The performance levels he can reach and the amount of respect he has in the game is incredible. All I can do is help him, enjoy his football here, and the rest is for him and the club to think about.”
On Silva’s fitness, Potter added: “He was okay when we played AC Milan but got a little worse as the week went on.
“With two days to recover, it didn't make sense to play him again. He is a leader, a top professional and a top person. Again, he has been a joy to work with.”
