Owen Hargreaves claims Todd Boehly has made another Chelsea transfer mistake
Hargreaves was surprised by the decision.
Owen Hargreaves believes Todd Boehly has made another mistake after Chelsea announced Thiago Silva would leave the club at the end of the season.
It was confirmed on Monday that Silva, 39, would end his four-year spell at Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Brazilian joined Chelsea on a free transfer in 2020 and went on to help the Blues win three trophies, including the Champions League.
It is not clear if Chelsea tried to persuade Silva to sign a contract extension but Hargreaves believes the Stamford Bridge hierarchy should have done everything in their power to keep him at the club.
Boehly’s ownership of Chelsea has been widely criticised, with the club’s heavy spending and awarding of remarkedly long contracts yet to lead to success on the pitch.
‘Chelsea should have kept him on. I think they should have kept him,’ the ex-England midfielder said on Premier League Productions.
‘The reason why they are struggling this season is because they have no leaders, no experienced players.
‘They need more of them, not less. You don’t let the guy go who’s won the Champions League and been one of the best centre-backs of all time.
‘He could have stayed to mentor all those brilliant young centre-backs they have, like Colwill, Badiashile and Disasi.
‘Having players like Thiago Silva in the dressing room is priceless. A guy like Thiago, who has been there and done it, he doesn’t fold in the big moments.
‘He can still play. I think he’ll go back to Brazil and play there. It’s so important to have mentors when you come through – that guy would be the best mentor ever.’
In an emotional statement, Silva said his love for Chelsea was ‘indescribable’ and hinted at returning to Stamford Bridge one day.
‘Chelsea means a lot to me,’ he said. ‘I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years.
‘It is already hard saying goodbye in the most normal of circumstances but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But once a Blue, always a Blue.’
Arsenal legend Ian Wright said Silva’s announcement was ‘sad’ as he paid tribute to a player who has enjoyed a ‘great career’.
‘A very sad video to watch,’ Wright said. ‘He was very emotional and it’s a tough one because there does come a time in your career, and he is getting old, when you start to feel this is winding down.
‘That day is coming and that has, obviously, happened to him. The announcement was very emotional because he knew it was coming and now he has to put it out there.
‘What was really quite sad to watch was how he couldn’t control the fact that he has accepted it in himself, and you see him in tears. It is sad. It’s sad to see because a great career is winding down.’
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