90min
·03 de janeiro de 2025
90min
·03 de janeiro de 2025
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.
"Another talent, another good player," Maresca said of the 19-year-old when addressing the media on Friday.
Aaron Anselmino made 18 appearances for Boca Juniors in 2024 / Daniel Jayo/GettyImages
"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.
"If he's here it's because we think he is a good player, and he can help us, but for sure he is very young, and he is coming from Argentina, with a completely different culture, different football, different level, so he needs time to adapt."
Chelsea travel to Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon searching for a much-needed win after a disappointing return of one point from their final three games of 2024.