VIDEO: Thiago Silva gets a stunning welcome home as 55,000 Fluminense fans turn up at Maracana to show love to returning hero

Addressing the crowd, Silva said: “Thank you for taking such a special time out of your lives to be with me today. You don’t know how special it is for me to come home. I was sure this would happen. You know my family will stay in London. And this is a demonstration of affection for the institution, for you fans and for football itself.

“I would like to thank God for allowing me to wear this important shirt again. I feel very proud to put her on my chest for the second time. I want to thank Chelsea for giving me an incredible moment and making that moment available for me to wear the shirt. My contract runs until June 30th and at no point did they deny the possibility of making this presentation today. I would like to thank President Mario for all his efforts and for never giving up on our dreams. And today it becomes a reality, of working together for Fluminense, which is the thing we love most in this world.”

The honour of handing over the No.3 shirt to Silva fell to one of the club’s oldest employees, masseur Geronimo, adding a touch of class to the presentation ceremony. Among the attendees were current Fluminense stars such as Marcelo, Felipe Melo, Ganso, Cano, and Renato Augusto. The stadium was a sea of fireworks and cheers as the veteran defender walked around the pitch and waved to the fans.

Silva’s return comes as he looks to bring his wealth of experience and leadership back to Fluminense, potentially guiding the team to new heights. The team will be back in action against Botafogo on June 11 in a Brazilian Serie A fixture.