Chelsea’s youthful side are set for an emotional reunion with club legend Thiago Silva as they take on Brazil’s Fluminense in the semi-finals of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup this Tuesday in New Jersey.
Silva, now 40, will captain a seasoned Fluminense side against the club where he enjoyed a distinguished four-year stint from 2020 to 2024. Despite his age, the veteran centre-back remains a commanding presence and has led the Brazilian outfit on a fairytale run in the tournament.
The semifinal clash is particularly poignant for several Chelsea players who came through the ranks during Silva’s time at Stamford Bridge. Spanish defender Marc Cucurella, who played alongside Silva for two seasons, revealed they had exchanged messages ahead of the meeting.
“He’s a legend of football, a top player,” Cucurella told English media. “We have the opportunity to play against him again and hopefully we can do good things, win this game, and reach the final.”
Silva returned to Fluminense in 2024 after leaving Chelsea, rejoining the club where he first made his name by helping them to the 2008 Copa Libertadores final. Under coach Renato Gaúcho—now in his sixth stint at the helm—Fluminense won the 2023 Copa Libertadores and have impressed in the Club World Cup.
They drew with Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, knocked out Inter Milan in the round of 16, and edged Saudi giants Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals. Speaking after that win, Silva reflected on the team’s underdog spirit.
“If you had asked me beforehand if we would get this far, I would have said no,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “The financial disparity is enormous. But our collective spirit and family-like atmosphere give us strength beyond expectations.”
Fluminense boast an experienced core beyond Silva, including 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio, 35-year-old wing-back Samuel Xavier, and 37-year-old striker Germán Cano.
Despite their age, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is not underestimating the Brazilians. “They are very well-organised with some very good players. The manager is doing a fantastic job,” Maresca said. “Brazilian teams bring high energy to this tournament—perhaps because they’re at the start of their season, while we’ve just concluded ours.”
Maresca’s Chelsea, fresh off a fourth-place Premier League finish and a UEFA Europa Conference League triumph, are among the youngest squads in the tournament. Their starting eleven in the 1-0 quarterfinal win over Palmeiras had an average age of just 24.
The Italian coach has continued injecting youth into his side. Brazilian forward João Pedro, 23, formerly of Fluminense, made his Chelsea debut in that match. Meanwhile, teenage sensation Estevão Willian (18) is set to join from Palmeiras next season, and winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (20) has arrived from Borussia Dortmund.
Victory over Fluminense would book Chelsea a place in the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain—a fitting stage for the next generation of Blues talent to make their mark, against the backdrop of a reunion with one of the club’s greats.
