Noni Madueke has named former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva as the ‘best player he’s ever played with’ and says his ability was ‘just mad’.
Silva won trophies in Brazil, Italy and France before moving to the Premier League ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.
The Brazilian centre-back endured a difficult start to his Chelsea career but soon showed the class that had made him, in the eyes of many, one of the best defenders of his generation.
Despite approaching the age of 40, Silva was one of the most consistent players in the Premier League, winning Chelsea’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2023.
Silva departed Stamford Bridge after four years at the end of last season, subsequently returning to his boyhood club Fluminense as a free agent.
Despite only being 22, Madueke has already played with a number of top-class players for club and country, becoming a key member of the Chelsea squad and breaking into the England team earlier this year.
‘The best player I’ve played with? I’d probably have to give it to Thiago Silva,’ Madueke told Amazon Prime Video.
‘The guy’s unbelievable. I used to go against him in training sometimes and think, “this man’s double my age.” And he can still take the ball off me.
‘I think I’m pretty good with the ball at my feet, so it was just mad. Obviously his leadership as well.
‘But just his ability… like the things he was doing in training, his technique and stuff, unbelievable, honestly.
‘He was a great captain figure. He was always perfect with me. He always encouraged me since I got here.
‘He was a great player and a great leader. He was a great person to have around.’
Silva was part of the Chelsea team that won the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, helping the Blues keep a clean sheet in the final against Manchester City.
Tuchel will manage Madueke and Chelsea’s other England players after he was confirmed as Gareth Southgate’s replacement in October.
Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League – four points behind Liverpool – but would go to ‘another level’ if they managed to sign a new Thiago Silva, according to Ian Wright.
‘Could you imagine this Chelsea side with a 32-year-old Thiago Silva?’ ex-Arsenal and England striker Wright said.
‘Dude, it’s another level, isn’t it? Bro, we’re talking another level. That’s for me the profile they need to be looking at.’
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