Thiago Silva has said he is prepared to return to international football at the age of 39. The Chelsea centre-back has not played for the Seleção since the 2022 World Cup but with Brazil struggling under their caretaker Fernando Diniz he has offered to make a comeback if the national team wants him.
Brazil drew against Venezuela and lost against Uruguay in their past two qualifiers and face Colombia and Argentina next month. Diniz is set to name his squad for those two games on Sunday. “I leave it open and I leave it up to them,” he told the Guardian on Wednesday. They were knocked out of the last World Cup by Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals.
“I’m not going to say that I’m out of the Seleção. If they want to call me up for the Copa América or the World Cup qualifiers to help in any way, I’m available. If they want me for what I’m showing for Chelsea, I’m here. I will always have my doors open for the Seleção.”
Silva made his debut for Brazil in October 2008 and a month later his first son, Isago, was born. Now he is playing for Chelsea’s Under-15s and is asking his father some pertinent questions. “One day I was watching a game and my son asked me: ‘Who’s playing?’ I said it was Brazil. And he asked me why I wasn’t there. I had to explain that the years pass, your career passes, and there is a renewal in the national team. Football is like that. I said that later he could be in dad’s place. They understand this moment more, my absence. I guess my absence makes sense, but it’s all new to me and him.”
The conversation made Thiago Silva question his position with the national team. After Qatar he said it had definitely been his last time at the World Cup and hinted it was his last-time ever with the Seleção. But maybe it wasn’t. “When you see the new squad being announced, that thing inside you comes out again. And you ask, I am out or will I try again? There are several things going through your head.
“I can’t say that I don’t want to be called up any more. If I have the opportunity to help these young people, I am available. I think you can never refuse the Seleção when it comes calling. I used to joke with Manoel [the Brazil kitman] that if I have to come as a kitman, I come as kitman and you leave. Or take out Serginho [Brazil massage therapist] and I come as massage therapist,” he says with a smile.
“But they are both my great friends within the team, I don’t want to take anyone’s place. When the Seleção calls you, you have to be available. Regardless of the area you are in, especially in this process of renewal and arrival of a new coach, it is a new way of playing, If I can help I will certainly be there. I just don’t want to get in the way.”
Silva has made 113 appearances for Brazil with a record of 80 wins and 22 draws. He is playing well for Chelsea and was voted the Supporters’ Player of the Year for 2022-23. He feels he is in good form and ready to help Brazil.
“Today I am [in a condition] to help. Some say that Thiago won’t get to the World Cup. But the World Cup is far away. The moment now is not about playing in the World Cup. Now is the time to qualify. If you play poorly in the qualifiers no one from Brazil gets to go to the World Cup.”
