A European football expert recently appeared on a radio show and stated that he suggests Chelsea not recall defender Valentino Anselmino, who is on loan at Borussia Dortmund, in January.
Chelsea signed the 20-year-old Anselmino from Boca Juniors in 2024 and retained him on loan until this year. The centre-back made his debut for the Blues in the Club World Cup, and after winning the trophy with the team, he was loaned to Borussia Dortmund.
At Dortmund, he has made 9 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal in the league and providing one assist in the Champions League. However, injuries have prevented him from getting more playing time.
It has been revealed that Anselmino's loan agreement includes a previously unknown clause stipulating that Chelsea can recall him if he fails to get sufficient playing time.
Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač does not consider this a problem. Last month, he said:"Everything has been sorted out with Chelsea. He is our player, and I expect him to stay with us until the end of the season."
Nevertheless, the Blues may still take a surprise action to recall him early. But European football expert Andy Brassell insists that doing so would be foolish for both Chelsea and the player himself, considering Anselmino's impact in Germany so far.
He said: “They can recall Anselmino next month. So far, it's mainly injuries that have affected him. As a very young defender adapting to first-team football, and adapting to first-team football at an elite club in a foreign country, Anselmino has left an extremely deep impression on everyone he has worked with at Dortmund.”
“If he were fit, he would currently be in the starting eleven, especially considering Ramy Bensebaini's departure to represent Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.”
“I think almost from the moment he walked through the door, he was the kind of loan player you take notice of. People often say you should never fall in love with a loan player. But I think many people at Dortmund looked at him early on and thought 'yes, this is someone we’d like to keep for a few years.'”
“Realistically, that may not be the case. But if I were Chelsea, I would leave him there. Looking at the second half of the season, although Dortmund have been eliminated from the DFB-Pokal, they will continue in the Champions League, whether it's reaching the top 8 or top 24. Between now and the end of the season, they will have many important games to play, and I have no doubt he will get opportunities to play.”
“They have been in a situation with many defensive injuries, and even in January, Bensebaini will still be absent. Who knows how Anton [Papadopoulos] and Niklas Süle will be performing.”
“Anselmino will get his chance. I think he is a physically strong player who also likes to pass the ball. In the long run, I really think he can make an impact in the Premier League. So I think Chelsea, and maybe he himself, just need a little more patience here.”
“I think if Chelsea leave him at Dortmund, he will probably play another 15 games before the end of the season. Considering he's a young player with relatively little experience in top leagues, I think this is a great opportunity for him. Moreover, being in a coaching team that emphasizes physicality, discipline and hard work, I think this will be a great asset for him.”
"So obviously Chelsea can terminate the loan, but I'm not sure how beneficial that would be for the player."
