Alberto Grassi

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In the trenches of a relegation battle, 30-year-old Alberto Grassi finds himself in the periphery of a struggling US Cremonese side languishing in 16th position. The Italian defensive midfielder has managed just two appearances this season, clocking 180 minutes with zero goals and assists to his name. Yet when called upon, Grassi operates as a deep-lying playmaker, his primary weapon being ball retention rather than headline statistics. With a modest €1.8 million market value and a 47 overall rating that sits below teammates like Martín Payero (62) and Dennis Johnsen (59), the former youth international represents squad depth in Cremonese's fight for survival. His ball retention ability—statistically his greatest strength at 55 passing—offers stability in chaotic moments. For Grassi, every minute counts as he battles for a more permanent place in the starting eleven while Cremonese desperately seek form in the lower reaches of the table.