Zé Pedro

Zé Pedro has established himself as Cagliari's Silver-tier Engine. Swapping Porto for the rigours of Italian football, the 29-year-old brings pure grit to the pitch. He lacks major silverware on his CV, but his combative edge more than makes up for it.

His underlying metrics reveal a pure grafter. Fourteen appearances and 1060 minutes of action point to a player the manager trusts implicitly. He is not there to provide flair. He is there to disrupt. Earning the SHIELD badge highlights his elite blocking ability and willingness to put his body on the line. A standout Workrate rating proves he has the physical reserves to sustain real Intensity match after match. He is on an upward trajectory when it comes to form, comfortably outperforming his baseline ability. Zero goal contributions in his last five outings tell a clear story, but his real value lies entirely in defensive denial.

The Stakes are intriguing regarding his market profile. His valuation has taken a dip to €2M. That falling trend puts pressure on him to keep delivering these high-effort shifts to secure his long-term status at the club.