---
title: "PSG Sporting Director Leonardo Admits ‘Mistake’ Letting Thiago Silva Leave"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/11/leonardo-admits-mistake-selling-thiago-silva-chelsea-psg/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2020-11-11T12:30:49Z"
modified: "2020-11-11T12:30:49Z"
---

# PSG Sporting Director Leonardo Admits ‘Mistake’ Letting Thiago Silva Leave

Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting director Leonardo has admitted the French Ligue 1 club made a ‘mistake’ in allowing [Thiago Silva](https://readchelsea.com/2020/11/09/garth-crooks-praise-thiago-silva-chelsea/) to leave for free last summer.

The 36-year-old [signed for Chelsea in August](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/08/28/thiago-silva-moves-from-paris-to-london) after the Champions League final, Silva’s final game for PSG, and has already [made a big impact](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12125317/thiago-silva-chelsea-boss-frank-lampard-praises-impact-of-experienced-defender) at Stamford Bridge.

Silva left the French capital after eight years when his contract expired alongside Edinson Cavani, who has since [joined Manchester United](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-confirms-the-signing-of-former-psg-striker-edinson-cavani); and now Leonardo has admitted to the club’s official media outlets \[via [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8934319/PSG-director-Leonardo-admits-wrong-let-Thiago-Silva-Edinson-Cavani-leave.html)\] that they may have slipped up.

He acknowledged: “It was a moment where we could not give them exactly what they wanted. It was a financial and generational problem.”

Leonardo, himself a [former PSG and Brazil player](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leonardo/profil/spieler/102586), continued: “It was the moment to count on Marquinhos and (Presnel) Kimpembe. The decisions were difficult to take. Aside from that, we could have made a mistake.”

### READ CHELSEA VERDICT

The mention of a ‘generational problem’ suggests the French giants simply viewed Silva as too old to merit a new deal, although he continues to operate at the highest level as well as [remaining part of the Brazil setup](https://www.skysports.com/football/teams/brazil/squad).

Given his [early performances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/thiago-silva/leistungsdaten/spieler/29241) for the Blues, it seems almost certain there was a mistake made in Paris to let Silva leave, even though Thomas Tuchel’s side [continue to dominate](https://www.skysports.com/ligue-1-table) their domestic league.

Alongside the arrival of Edouard Mendy, Silva has helped to solidify the Chelsea defence, so much so that Frank Lampard’s side had gone [five matches without conceding](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/matches/results) until Sheffield United scored at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

Aside from the [headaches Silva has been experiencing](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-thiago-silva-premier-league-headache-b62846.html) and one early slip on his debut debut, the experienced defender’s introduction has been virtually flawless. His [leadership and know-how](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-transfer-news-thiago-silva-olivier-giroud-a4539861.html) at the heart of the defence will likely be a huge part of any success Lampard can bring this season.