AC Milan Defender Thiago Silva Extends Contract Through 2017

AC Milan captain-in-waiting Thiago Silva has added an extra year on to his contract at AC Milan, putting to rest any attempts by other clubs to lure him away from the San Siro.

The 27-year-old Brazilian has been at AC Milan since 2009 and quickly became a fan favorite, especially after playing a critical role in Milan's Serie A-winning campaign during the 2010-11 season.

His play with Milan, and as captain of the Brazilian national team, has earned him the attention of the biggest clubs in football. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have all expressed interest in Silva, with several bids for the center back having been rejected and reportedly offered by each of the above teams.

The most notable bid came earlier this summer when PSG offered €50 million, which would have shattered the current record for a defender that was set when Manchester United bought Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United. Milan were nearly ready to accept it, but president Silvio Berlusconi stepped in and turned it down at the final moment.

Silva has always expressed his love for Milan and his desire to remain at the club so a move that he willingly chose would be surprising. However, Milan were supposedly planning on using the transfer money to balance their books.

As the rumors grew to near reality, discontent was felt among not only the fans, who did not want to lose Silva the way they lost Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka, but by the players as well. Antonio Cassano, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng were the most notable in declaring their disapproval of the proposed sale and Cassano even said that the move would make him reconsider his future.

However, there is no need to worry now as according to the Washington Post and other sources, Silva, whose original contract ran until June 2016, has inked a deal adding an extra year. By doing so, he becomes less likely than ever to leave the club anytime soon.