Silva: I didn't want to leave Milan

Posted Friday, July 20, 2012 by ESPN

Paris Saint-Germain signing Thiago Silva claims that he and his family were reluctant to leave AC Milan but were persuaded by manager Leonardo.

Thiago Silva last week completed a high profile €42 million move from AC Milan to PSG despite having signed a new deal with the Rossoneri earlier this month.
The Brazilian defended his move, insisting that he didn't move to PSG for the money as he will be earning less in Paris, which has a 75% tax law for the highest income bracket.

"I was happy with the transfer and sad about my exit from Milan because I experienced there were some strong emotions there," he told reporters at a news conference.

"This is football: one day you are here, the next day you are somewhere else. I had signed a new deal with them a week before."

"People call me a mercenary, which leaves me upset. I am not making more money at PSG. This is not my fault, I would like to apologise to the fans."

Silva explained that it was the influences of his former managers at AC Milan that drew him to the Parc de Princes.

"This was a difficult situation for me: I did not want to leave Milan, and neither did my family. But it was a positive thing because [PSG sporting director] Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti called me," he explained.

"When I joined Milan, it had also been Leonardo to call me. I really like him. PSG are a dream club, like Ibrahimovic said."

Many of his fellow Brazilians like Oscar, Lucas Moura, Hulk, Leandro Damiao are subjected to transfer speculation and set to represent their country in the London Olympics and Silva shared that it will be difficult for them to be fully concentrated on the task ahead and urged them to conclude their business early on.

"To be honest, transfer speculation sometimes is a negative thing," he added. "You are focused on a competition, and then some website says that this or that player could leave... It is hard for us.

"I had that recent transfer and it was hard for me while nothing was decided. It is important that these things are solved as quickly as possible."