Thiago Silva, 39, breaks down in tears as he announces he is leaving Chelsea – but hints he is ALREADY in line for another role – as Mauricio Pochettino loses his only 30+ star

Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season but has said he is interested in returning in the future, possibly as a coach.

The 39-year-old Brazilian joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and has remained a vital member of the squad throughout his four years in charge, starting with the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Silva suffered a groin injury during that comeback at Villa Park, raising the possibility that it could be his last appearance in the blue shirt.

Silva has now revealed he will leave this summer, describing in a statement his ‘indescribable love’ for the club he originally wanted to represent for just one year when he signed.

‘Chelsea means a lot to me. I came here with the intention of only staying for a year and it ended up being four years,” he said via Chelsea’s website. ‘Not only for me, but also for my family.

The Brazilian legend was part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League and the Club World Cup

Silva made the announcement in an emotional video released on the club’s social media accounts on Monday

My sons play for Chelsea, so it is a source of great pride to be part of the Chelsea family – literally because my sons are here. I hope they can continue their careers here at this victorious club that many players want to be part of.

“I think everything I’ve done here over the last four years, I’ve always given it my all. But unfortunately everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. That doesn’t mean this is a final ending. I hope to leave the door open for me to return in the near future, albeit in a different role here.”

Chelsea fan group We Are The Shed are preparing a special display for the final home game of the season – against Bournemouth on May 19 – and Silva continued: ‘It’s already difficult to say goodbye in the most normal circumstances, but when there is a mutual love, it’s even harder. But one is blue, always blue.

‘The way I came into the club, with the support of the club, I came into the club as a leader, even though I didn’t feel like it had arrived as a newcomer. It’s always difficult to integrate, but little by little I became part of the group and (Frank) Lampard played a big role in that. I am grateful to him for that.

‘[It’s been a] dream, definitely a dream. Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I could achieve such great things and win one of the best professional titles, the Champions League, with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

‘Farewell is for those who go away and don’t come back. I plan to come back one day.”

Silva’s outspoken partner Belle (right) all but confirmed his impending departure after calling the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Man City his ‘last dance’

The centre-back broke down in tears in the clip as he insisted: ‘I plan to come back one day’

The experienced defender spoke about Frank Lampard’s influence on his arrival in the team

Mauricio Pochettino will therefore lose his only regular first-team player over the age of 30, with Marcus Bettinelli the only other player in the squad to reach that age but only a third-choice goalkeeper.

The next oldest player is Raheem Sterling at 29, followed by 27-year-old Ben Chilwell and 26-year-old Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez.