December 24th 2024.
When you think of the best players in the Premier League, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke instantly comes to mind. The young talent has been making waves in the football world and has even had the opportunity to play alongside some of the greatest players in the sport.
One of those players is former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, whom Madueke has named as the best player he has ever played with. And it's not hard to see why. Silva, who has won trophies in Brazil, Italy, and France, joined Chelsea in 2020 and quickly became a key member of the team.
Despite a rocky start to his Chelsea career, Silva's skill and leadership on the field soon shone through. In fact, he was so impressive that he won both the Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards in 2023, at the age of 40. But after four successful years at Stamford Bridge, Silva returned to his childhood club Fluminense as a free agent.
Madueke, at the age of 22, has already played with a number of top-class players for both club and country. He has become an integral part of the Chelsea squad and even made his debut for the England team earlier this year. When asked about the best player he's played with, Madueke didn't hesitate to name Silva.
"He's unbelievable," Madueke said in an interview with Amazon Prime Video. "I used to go against him in training 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. And of course, his leadership was also top-notch."
Madueke went on to praise Silva's technique and ability, stating that he was constantly in awe of the things he saw him do in training. The young winger also highlighted Silva's role as a captain and how he always encouraged and supported him since he joined the team.
Silva's impact on the Chelsea team was undeniable, especially during their historic Champions League win in 2021 under manager Thomas Tuchel. And now, Tuchel will have the opportunity to coach Madueke and other England players after being confirmed as Gareth Southgate's replacement in October.
As for Chelsea, they are currently second in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Liverpool. However, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright believes that they could reach "another level" if they were able to sign another player like Silva.
"Could you imagine this Chelsea side with a 32-year-old Thiago Silva?" Wright said. "It's another level, isn't it? We're talking another level. That's the kind of profile they should be looking for."
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