Andrey Santos hails two Chelsea Stars above ALL his Brazilian Teammates

In a light-hearted interview with TNT Sports BR, Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, currently on international duty with Brazil, participated in a "World Cup" style knockout bracket where he rated the best players he's encountered throughout his career.

The young Brazilian, who has experienced stints at Vasco da Gama, Chelsea, and a loan at Strasbourg, didn't hold back in highlighting two Chelsea stars—Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva—placing them above several of his high-profile Brazilian national teammates like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and also French footballer Desire Doue.

MATA-MATA COM ANDREY SANTOS! 🆚👀 Quem será que levou a melhor nessa "COPA DO MUNDO". Quem decide é o volante da #SeleçãoBrasileira! Foi bem nas escolhas? #FutebolBrasileiro

🎤: @moniquedanello pic.twitter.com/uVewV2Hgs2

— TNT Sports BR (@TNTSportsBR) September 7, 2025

The Setup: A Teammate Tournament

The challenge began with Santos assigning players to specific categories based on their standout attributes:

• Most Creative: Rodrygo (Real Madrid and Brazil teammate)
• Fastest: Pedro Neto (Chelsea winger)
• Best Technique: Thiago Silva (former Chelsea defender, now at Fluminense, and Brazil legend)
• Funniest Teammate: Savinho (Manchester City, Brazilian)
• Best Left Foot: Cole Palmer (Chelsea attacker)
• Best Dribbler: Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid and Brazil teammate)
• Strongest: Reece James (Chelsea right-back)
• Hardest to Mark: Desire Doue (PSG winger)

These eight players were then pitted against each other in a bracket, with Santos making the tough calls on who advances. The interview, captured in a viral video, showcased Santos' thoughtful deliberations, often accompanied by laughs and expressions of how difficult the choices were.

Key Matchups: Chelsea Talent Shines

The bracket produced some intriguing head-to-heads, particularly where Chelsea players edged out Brazilian stars:

• In one of the standout rounds, Santos had to choose between Cole Palmer and Vinicius Jr. After a moment of hesitation—"Nossa senhora, sério difícil hein?" (Our Lady, this is seriously hard!)—he opted for Palmer, praising his exceptional left foot and overall difference-making ability. This choice placed the English star above one of Brazil's most electrifying talents, a fellow national team member.
• Thiago Silva, the veteran defender who Santos credits for mentoring him during his early days at Chelsea, advanced steadily. He defeated Savinho in the first round and later Rodrygo in the semifinals, showcasing Santos' high regard for Silva's technical prowess and leadership.

Other notable decisions included Desire Doue advancing over Reece James, and Palmer beating Doue in the semis. However, the final pitted Palmer against Silva, and Santos ultimately crowned Thiago Silva the winner. He explained his choice emotionally:

"I go with Thiago for everything he represents in football and for the friendship I have with him. For the help he gave me when I arrived in a period of adaptation. He helped a lot. I think he was fundamental to my career.."

Thiago Silva: Better Than Palmer?

This final decision has sparked discussion, especially given Silva's recent departure from Chelsea after his contract expired in the summer of 2024. Now back in Brazil with Fluminense, the 40-year-old icon left Stamford Bridge as a legend, having captained the side and contributed to their 2021 Champions League triumph. Santos' preference for Silva over Palmer aligns with reports highlighting the young midfielder's admiration for his former teammate.

In fact, during the 2023/24 season, Palmer and Silva featured together in 32 matches under manager Mauricio Pochettino, achieving a 50% win rate (16 wins, 6 draws, 10 losses). While Palmer has since exploded into superstardom with his goal-scoring and creative output, Santos' bracket suggests Silva's overall impact—both on and off the pitch—edges him out as the superior player in his eyes.

Context and Implications

Santos, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder signed by Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023, has yet to fully break into the first team but has impressed on loan. His selections reflect a blend of experiences: Brazilian flair from national team duties and Premier League quality from Chelsea. By rating Palmer and Silva so highly—Palmer over Vinicius and Silva as the ultimate champion—Santos underscores the depth of talent at Chelsea, even prioritizing them over stars from his homeland.

This interview not only humanizes Santos, showing his loyalty and gratitude, but also fuels debates among fans. Brazilian supporters might question picking an Englishman over Vinicius, while Chelsea fans will celebrate the endorsements of Palmer and Silva. As Santos continues to develop, such insights offer a glimpse into the players who have shaped his journey.