Argentina legend Juan Roman Riquelme makes prediction about Aaron Anselmino as he prepares to join Chelsea training this week

Argentina legend and Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme has revealed what he thinks of teenage defender Aaron Anselmino, who will join Chelsea training this week. The young centre-back signed a deal with the Blues in the summer and stayed in Argentina on loan until the end of their domestic season.

Former Villarreal and Barcelona man Riquelme spoke with ESPN about the departing youngster, praising him. The executive predicted that the defender will have a huge future and will be a player for the national team. He said (via Metro):

"He has developed a lot. With the growth, the head that he has and the desire to learn that he shows, he is on his way to being a great footballer. He is going to be a player for the national team. He is going to compete with the centre-backs."

Anselmino was on the radar of Manchester United for several months before Chelsea swooped in to complete his signing in the summer. The Blues unveiled the 19-year-old and allowed him to remain on loan at Boca to continue his development.

The youngster was supposed to remain in Argentina until the summer, but he suffered a number of injury problems, which caused the Blues to truncate his loan. He will now begin training with the club at Cobham ahead of completing a loan move to another European club this month. The defender, who was signed for around £16 million, does not have the required points to earn a UK work permit.

Anselmino appeared 18 times for Boca Juniors in the 2024 season, with injuries mostly hampering his participation. The youngster has been granted permission by Chelsea to participate in the U-20 Copa America with Argentina this month.

Chelsea recall young goalkeeper from League One loan

Chelsea have recalled young goalkeeper Gabriel 'Gaga' Slonina from his season-long loan spell at Barnsley this month. The 20-year-old USA youth international has been plagued by a finger injury, which has kept him on the sidelines for two months.

Slonina joined the League One side in the summer and immediately started 14 consecutive games as first-choice. A couple of costly errors cost him his place in the XI, causing manager Darrell Clarke to drop him in October. He never featured for the side again due to his injury, and has now returned to Cobham.

Slonina spent the 2023-24 season on loan in Belgium with KAS Eupen for his first taste of European football. He will likely be sent out on loan once more in the second half of the season.