Aaron Anselmino: Boca’s Teenage Phenom in Defense
Club: Boca Juniors
Nationality: Argentina
Position: CB
Preferred Foot: Right
Height: 6’1”/186cm
Age: 19
Strengths: composure, press resistance, long passing, timed aggression, positioning, anticipation, physicality
Areas for Development: weak-foot usage
From Valentín Barco to Mateo Retegui to Alan Varela, Boca Juniors have exported a wide range of young talents for big-money fees in recent years. The next player to earn a big transfer could very well be teenage center back Aaron Anselmino.
The Argentine exudes calm on the ball and boasts the perfect timing of aggression in duels, an intelligent defender who anticipates through balls in behind and who can defend big spaces. So calm, so mature, so press resistant, he isn’t fazed by pressure and can turn past players and pass out from the back.
Anselmino has very good long passing with either foot, capable of spraying passes out to the wings to start attacks, and he has a good pass selection and is technically secure at the back. Despite being so calm on the ball, he also has great timed aggression and judges when to increase the intensity. Off the ball, he’s aggressive and physically imposing, capable of winning the ball back whilst not crossing the line with his aggression.
The Boca Juniors prospect has quality positioning and anticipates when passes are coming in behind well, capable of timing his run to meet the pass either by intercepting, or sliding to tackle the player, taking them out before they get it. Anselmino’s positioning and anticipation is exactly why he’s so good at defending big spaces. He’s quick enough and reads play well enough to play a high line and cover large areas. When defending 1v1 situations, he doesn’t rush to ground and exhibits strong awareness and discipline to not lunge in.
However, one area for development is his weak foot usage. Despite being good with his left foot, he often avoids using it when controlling and carrying the ball. That being said, he doesn’t struggle at all in central positions and looks very comfortable receiving the ball on both sides even when avoiding his left foot at times. All in all, he has what it takes to excel as a center back either in a back three or a back four, and he has the traits to make the step up to Europe and thrive in a possession-heavy system.
By: Ben Mattinson / @Ben_Mattinson_
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Marcelo Endelli / Getty Images