Thiago Silva unleashes madness at Fluminense stadium

Former Chelsea player Thiago Silva said on Friday that he has come home during his crowded presentation as Fluminense's new reinforcement.

"You don't know how special it is for me to be back home.... I knew it was going to happen," the 39-year-old said at a packed Maracana Stadium as fans sang the anthem and waved flags in the club's colours during a ceremony that lasted nearly three hours.

The defender, who returns to the team where he grew up as a player as a boy, said with emotion that his return was a "demonstration of affection for the club, the fans and football".

Silva arrives at Fluminense, with whom he has signed until June 2026, at a low point for the team, who are 15th in the standings. Waiting for him at the club is Marcelo, with whom he played together at Fluminense years ago and also with the national team.

Silva made the leap to European football in 2009 with AC Milan, before being signed by Paris Saint-Germain in one of the most expensive transfers in history for a defender.

After eight years with the French side and winning a string of domestic tournaments, he joined Chelsea in 2020, where he spent the last four seasons.