Thiago Silva knows he has time on his side despite reaching the age of 38. He still remains not only one of Chelsea's but Europe's best defenders, standing out in the most challenging environments.
His incredible longevity was symbolically reflected in the two games against the club where he began to carve his legacy in Europe. In the first at Stamford Bridge he consistently stepped up and stifled the sporadic attacking intentions of AC Milan with comfort, most emphatically tackling Rafael Leao, which set a commanding tone.
Although the second game at the San Siro was shaped by Fikayo Tomori's dismissal in the opening 20 minutes and Chelsea's general control, Silva still made a defining interception from a Sandro Tonali cross in the second half, a moment that could have sparked life into a disheartened Milan side.
READ MORE: Every word Chelsea co-owner said on unique takeover, £1bn plans, Todd Boehly and All or Nothing
Silva was asked about his Chelsea future on Monday in a press conference and was unsurprisingly reserved in committing either way.
"It is not the right time to talk about new contracts, so I can not accurately answer this question," The Brazillian said. "For me now, what is important is to continue playing to the high level and helping the team achieve the best possible results.
"For sure, there will be the time where we will need to talk. It could be before the World Cup or after the World Cup because, of course, I need to know whether I will have a new contract with Chelsea for my family arrangements. It is not easy. If I won't have a new contract, I will have to decide what to do, and also, for my family, this is an important decision, so we will see what will happen."
The reference to family links to his wife Belle, who has gained a popular reputation amongst supporters for her vocal support of Chelsea on social media, singing amongst fans in the West Stand in May 2021 as Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 and supporters began to return to the stands following the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was again seen celebrating Chelsea's win with supporters outside the San Siro on Tuesday night, proving the connection not only Thiago but the Silva family have made with Chelsea.
Silva penned a new deal at the beginning of the year, then sat next to former director Marina Granovskaia, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until the end of this season.
Like all of his seasons so far with the club, he is one of the top performers and does not appear to be slowing down. The looming World Cup in Qatar could have unpredictable effects on players' fitness heading into the second half of the domestic season, but at the current moment, the idea of handing Silva a new contract feels like an easy decision for Todd Boehly.
A simpler one than N'Golo Kante, who despite his incredible legacy at the club, cannot escape the injury problems that have plagued his ability to consistently feature for the past three years. Or that of Jorginho, who might be reaching a natural endpoint with the club looking to invest in younger legs.
"Brazil's head coach Tite recently said that Thiago Silva is bad for football. The reason he said that is because of Thiago's ability to make something that is incredibly difficult look extremely easy". Jessica Frota, a Chelsea supporter from Brazil tells football.london.
"And that's not just because of his technical ability, which we all know is superb. But also his ability to read the game, to position himself in the right place at the right time."
Silva has set the standards for his fellow peers, providing a barometer of consistency and excellence to match. In and around the dressing room, that is likely invaluable to maintain for as long as possible, particularly passing on wisdom to younger names like Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah.
He is aiding any imminent search for future defensive reinforcements that have been linked in recent weeks. Apart from rests against Dinamo Zagreb and Wolves, Silva has started every other game so far this term.
"What I think needs to be taken into account when we are talking about a possible contract extension is the fact that even at 38, the level of his performances are not dropping and if anything they're increasing" Frota says.
Despite the almost £100 million outlay on Kalidou Koulibaly and Fofana in the previous transfer window, talk of interest in RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol has not been silenced. Academy graduates Levi Colwill and Ethan Ampadu are on loan this season with Brighton and Spezia, respectively, with the potential for them to return next summer and offer internal solutions.
"I think Thiago Silva represents everything that Chelsea stands for. He's a winner, he's a mentality monster. He gives it all on the pitch, he fights for the badge and it is no surprise that fans really created a bond with him.
"It would be wonderful if we got him on one more year, I think he still has a lot to give us and to give Chelsea. But obviously, you need to have in mind he is 38, his minutes will have to be managed. Every time that he's on the pitch, he performs. The pros outweigh the cons of handing him a new deal".
In a similar fashion to Kante's status, the defensive mind of Silva will be very hard to replicate. However, his ongoing longevity at the heart of Chelsea's defence is buying time to plan carefully for the future.
READ MORE
Chelsea suffer painful Juventus repeat as famous San Siro win over AC Milan is tainted
Kylian Mbappe transfer stance revealed as PSG star offers Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham hope
Todd Boehly told transfer fee Chelsea should pay for Rafael Leao amid subtle Graham Potter hint
Reece James shows Chelsea have their own Bernardo Silva amid Rafael Leao AC Milan warning
Todd Boehly has already hinted at what Stamford Bridge could look like amid £50m Chelsea plan
