Pippo Inzaghi has crowned Milan teammate Thiago Silva as the greatest defender on the planet.
"I think that Thiago Silva is the best defender in the world," he told Milan Channel. "It is incredible how good he really is.
"I hope for the good of this team and also for him that he can achieve what Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini did here.
"I think he's on the right path even if every player's career is different," added the veteran striker.
Giancarlo Rinaldi selects Jedi-like Milan centre-back Thiago Silva as Serie A's best stopper of the campaign
There is something of the Jedi about all the great defenders. They have a sense of anticipation which is superhuman, they can appear to bend events on the field of play to their will and sometimes simply their presence seems to send opponents cowering for cover. The Force is certainly strong in Thiago Silva.
Milan stopper Thiago Silva has played down the importance of his contribution to the club's Scudetto success.
The Brazilian has been one of the outfit's top performers this term, winning the praise of boss Massimiliano Allegri.
"I don't like to talk about my merits, but those of others," he told Sky Sport Italia. "The Scudetto that we have won this year is thanks to everyone, especially the attackers.
Milan have officially extended the contracts of Thiago Silva, Mark Van Bommel and Flavio Roma.
The club website released a statement this evening confirming that defender Thiago Silva had put pen to paper on a new deal tying him to San Siro until June 30, 2016.
This extension puts an end to reports of the Brazilian leaving the Rossoneri for Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Premier League sides.
Milan also confirmed that Van Bommel and Roma have signed until June 30, 2012.
Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate were rocks of the Milan defence this season and are already looking ahead to the Champions League.
“This is a highly-competitive side and I always believed, but only on this evening did I realise we could do it,” said Thiago Silva of their 0-0 draw with Roma that clinched the Scudetto.
“It's truly difficult to win in Serie A, so all of us deserve praise. There is no stand-out player, as we all did well and can all celebrate.
Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has pinpointed Thiago Silva as key to his club's success this term.
The Rossoneri are just one point away from the Scudetto and the Brazilian defender has been a key influence.
"He is a player with no equals in the world," Allegri told TG5. "He plays at three levels higher than everyone else."
Milan could have wrapped the title up last weekend, but were denied when Giampaolo Pazzini scored two late goals at Cesena to keep Inter in the race.
Milan stopper Alessandro Nesta has praised defensive teammates Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate.
In an interview with Milan Channel, the veteran became the second Milanista in a week, after Gianluca Zambrotta, to applaud rising star Abate.
"He's a good lad who always applies himself," he said of the former midfielder who is now playing regularly at right-back.
"He was used to another role, but by working seriously he has demonstrated himself to be an excellent full-back who could go on and play for Italy.
Thiago Silva has become a rock in the Milan defence and pledged to resist overseas offers. “I'd love to follow Paolo Maldini's footsteps.”
The Brazilian already impressed in his first season at San Siro and has been a key figure in their Scudetto push.
“It's true that I now play in a relaxed manner even without Alessandro Nesta by my side, as I have more confidence in my abilities than last season,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Thiago Silva has revealed the pressure of following in the stud marks of Paolo Maldini at Italian giants Milan.
The Brazilian was signed by the Rossoneri in 2009 from Fluminense as the legendary Maldini brought his 31-year stint with the club to an end.
"I'm in a decisive spell of my career," the South American told Sky Sport 24. "I feel the responsibility of being a successor to a phenomenon like Paolo Maldini.
"At the end of my career, I just hope to have won half of what he did during his splendid sporting life."
Thiago Silva does not agree that Leonardo was a traitor by crossing the Milan divide. “He wasn't the one to leave. It was the right decision.”
Many in the Rossoneri camp were shocked when their former teammate and Coach opted to join rivals Inter and will come face to face for the first time in tonight's derby.
“I have nothing against him and I think it was the right decision to accept Inter's offer,” said fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva.
