Fluminense president appears to confirm Thiago Silva's Chelsea contract decision

Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has admitted he is in regular contact with Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva, who he expects to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

Silva, now 39, will see his current contract with Chelsea expire this summer and there is significant uncertainty about his next move. The Brazilian veteran has spent most of the current season as a starter for Mauricio Pochettino but, after dropping out of the team through injury, has not played since February.

With Chelsea on the hunt for a new centre-back this summer, it has been speculated that Silva could be allowed to leave on a free transfer, with Fluminense known to be keen to bring him back to his native Brazil.

Now, Bittencourt has suggested he is confident Silva will not renew with Chelsea, paving the way for a summer exit.

"I'm very good friends with Thiago, I talk to him about a lot of things and not just about coming to Fluminense," Bittencourt told Globo Esporte. "We don't have anything at the moment, but we're very keen for him to come home.

"From what we've heard, his contract with Chelsea runs out in the middle of the year and he won't renew it. I think that, in Brazil, he wants to play for Fluminense. As soon as he's cleared at Chelsea, we'll get back to him. And he'll help us in this important year."

Bittencourt's comments come shortly after Fluminense director Fred openly admitted his desire to get a deal for Silva over the line.

"Thiago Silva has been a dream of ours for a long time, the president talks to him almost every week," Fred told ESPN. "Thiago has a contract in England, we're rooting for him, I personally am a friend of his, I'm a big fan of his character, he deserves all the best. He knows that here the doors are wide open for him to return.

"There's nothing [in the pipeline]. We have to be careful not to put pressure on Thiago. The fans love Thiago, we love Thiago, and Thiago loves Fluminense.

"One day it's inevitable, it will happen, it's the player's wish, the club's wish and we hope it happens as soon as possible."

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