Aitor Ruibal

Key strength: Cutting inside

Inside forward

Five points adrift of the Champions League places and mired in uncertain form, Real Betis sit fifth in La Liga - a position that belies their quality yet reflects their struggles. In the midst of this turbulence, Aitor Ruibal has emerged as Manuel Pellegrini's trusted soldier: a 29-year-old Spanish winger who has featured in 29 of 32 league matches, amassing 1,747 minutes of action. With 4 goals and 2 assists to his name, Ruibal won't light up stat charts, but his value lies in tactical discipline and reliability. Operating as an inside forward who drifts centrally from the right flank, he complements the creative spark of Giovani Lo Celso while providing an alternative to the €60m-rated Antony in the same position. His €3.5m market value represents shrewd value in a squad balancing ambition with financial reality. As Betis navigate their precarious position and fight to close the gap on the top four, Ruibal's consistency and adaptability - playing 60+ minutes per appearance - will be vital to Pellegrini's European ambitions.