ESPN Brasil has been publishing the round of interviews they’ve done with players before the weekend’s fixture, and since we’ve just gone through very agitated days in the transfer market, it was impossible not to talk about the many transfers this window.
So as the outlet spoke to Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, there were a few questions regarding his national teammates who’ve been switching clubs this summer.
One of them is Lucas Paquetá, who left Lyon to join West Ham United.
It turns out that with ESPN Brasil asking Silva if he already spoke to Paquetá about the move, the Blues’ player revealed that he actually tried to help bring the midfielder to Stamford Bridge to play with him instead of at West Ham.
“No, I didn’t talk to Paquetá about his coming here. I heard he was about to leave Lyon. I had some conversations here with some people, but unfortunately things didn’t work out,” Thiago Silva told ESPN Brasil.
According to Silva, Chelsea had other priorities in the window.
“Even because we weren’t 100% sure he would leave Lyon. The last week arrived, this thing got a lot stronger. And we had some other priorities, because of injuries we have on the team. So we needed a striker, another defender. A midfielder, a little less. I think that’s why things didn’t evolve well. But I’m happy for Paquetá because West Ham certainly have a very good structure, it’s a great club in the Premier League scene.”
Now as Chelsea are set to face West Ham at Stamford Bridge at the weekend, Thiago Silva claims to be ready to have Paquetá as an opponent for the first time, and isn’t wishing his compatriot a good start at his new club.
“I just hope he can be sad on Saturday. After that he can stay happy and get to the World Cup the way he knows, the way he’s been doing, which is playing good football.”
