Silva was already an experienced player when he joined Chelsea in 2020, later enjoying a notable four-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his era, Silva joined after spending eight years at Paris Saint-Germain and won the UEFA Champions League in his first season with Chelsea.

He played 155 matches for the London club and departed a year ago after contributing to the growth of several young talents now regularly playing under Enzo Maresca.

"He's a football legend, an exceptional player," Marc Cucurella, who played alongside Silva for two years, told the English media, mentioning that they had exchanged messages regarding their upcoming reunion.

"We have the chance to compete against him again, and hopefully, we can achieve great things, win this match, and reach the final."

Silva first gained recognition at Fluminense, being part of the team that reached the Copa Libertadores final in 2008, only to be defeated by LDU Quito from Ecuador.

He returned there after leaving Chelsea, once again donning the green, red, and white of the Rio de Janeiro club, which triumphed in the Copa Libertadores in 2023.

The ageless Brazil international was then reunited earlier this year with Renato Gaucho, the coach from 2008, who is currently in his sixth term in charge.

Fluminense's impressive performance in the Club World Cup has seen them hold Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, eliminate Inter Milan in the round of 16, and defeat the Saudi powerhouse Al Hilal in the quarter-finals.

"If you had asked me beforehand whether we would have reached this stage, I would have said we were far from it," Silva told broadcaster DAZN after the win over Al Hilal.

"We understand the financial strength of these teams; the gap is vast, absurd. However, often our unity and the familial atmosphere we foster provide us with strength that you might not expect."

Brazilian opponents once more

It’s not just Silva increasing the average age at Fluminense. There’s also 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio, wing-back Samuel Xavier who is 35, and 37-year-old Argentine forward German Cano.

However, the player providing them with the X-factor is 27-year-old Colombian winger Jhon Arias, undoubtedly one of the standout players of the tournament.

"I have watched some of their matches, and it’s clear they are very well-organized. They have some excellent players. The manager is doing a fantastic job," Maresca said as he prepares to face Brazilian opponents for the third time in the tournament.

They lost to Flamengo in the group stage but triumphed over Palmeiras in the quarter-finals in Philadelphia.

"The energy from Brazilian teams in this competition has been high—likely because they are at the start of their season while we have concluded ours," Maresca added.

Chelsea is now experiencing their first match at MetLife Stadium, the massive venue with an 82,500 capacity located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City.

Many of Maresca's players might not have known what to expect from FIFA's new tournament, which came at the end of a campaign where they finished fourth in the Premier League and won the UEFA Conference League.

But suddenly, they find themselves one game away from the final, where they would face either Real Madrid or PSG.

With Silva gone, Maresca has been working with a youthful squad at Chelsea, and the average age of his starting lineup against Palmeiras last Friday was just 24.

More young players are also coming in, with 23-year-old Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, previously of Fluminense, making his debut in the quarter-finals.

Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willianwho is 18, will join from Palmeiras ahead of next season, and 20-year-old winger Jamie Gittens has just signed from Borussia Dortmund.

Moises Caicedo, the midfield linchpin who is still only 23, will return to the midfield against Fluminense after serving his suspension.

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