- Aaron Anselmino recalled from his loan spell at Boca Juniors this month
- The teenage centre-back originally signed for Chelsea last summer
- The £17m defender arrives at Stamford Bridge during a spate of injuries
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that Argentine centre-back Aaron Anselmino will train with the first-team after being recalled early from his loan spell at Boca Juniors.
The exciting teenager, who came through Boca’s academy, officially signed for Chelsea over the summer in a deal worth around £17m. It was swiftly agreed that the defender would be loaned back to his boyhood club for the subsequent 12 months, but the Blues triggered a clause in that agreement to bring their new recruit to Stamford Bridge in January.
Anselmino’s premature arrival coincides with the news that French centre-back Wesley Fofana will likely miss the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring injury. Fellow defender Benoit Badiashile is also sidelined until February, opening a clear route into the first-team squad – if not a potential starting spot in cup competitions – for Anselmino.
Now the most important thing is that he arrives here, adapts himself, finds a house, and settles in the right way. We need to then give him time because when you come from the other side of the world, you need to adapt, see a new world, a new culture. For sure we will try to help him adapt as quickly as possible.”
Chelsea’s Italian boss added: “At the moment, the plan is to keep him here to allow him to work with us, and then to take a decision.