While the player’s reaction was one of sadness, the mood in the Dortmund boardroom is reportedly one of fury. The German giants confirmed the recall with a curt statement on Monday morning, simply noting that Chelsea had activated a break clause in the loan agreement. However, behind the scenes, the situation has caused significant friction.
According to a report from German outlet Bild, Dortmund executives are "incensed" by Chelsea's decision to trigger the recall so late in the window. With the transfer deadline now just one week away, the Bundesliga club have been left shorthanded in defence with very little time to source a replacement. The move has reportedly strained relations between the two clubs, with Dortmund feeling blindsided by the sudden loss of a squad player they had planned to nurture for the full season.
Back in London, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior will now look to integrate Anselmino into his first-team plans immediately. The Blues have presumably recalled the Argentine to cover for defensive injuries or to add depth for the second half of the season. It remains to be seen how quickly he will feature, but with a Premier League clash against West Ham scheduled for Saturday, the centre-back could be thrust straight into the matchday squad for a potential debut.