Federico Baschirotto

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

In the grim reality of US Cremonese's relegation nightmare, anchored to 18th place with form reading LWWLL, one man has emerged as the unlikely heartbeat of a drowning side. Federico Baschirotto, a 29-year-old Italian centre-back valued at just €4 million, has been nothing short of ever-present this campaign—logging 2,340 minutes across 27 appearances, virtually every second of league action available. While his more celebrated teammates like Andrea Pinamonti and Lovro Majer carry higher ratings and profiles, it's Baschirotto who embodies Cremonese's fight for survival. His aerial dominance has proven decisive at both ends, producing 2 crucial goals from the back—no small return for a defender with a 35 shooting stat. Remarkably, he's maintained discipline too, picking up just 2 yellow cards despite the relentless pressure of a relegation dogfight. With his 55 physicality and 55 defending, Baschirotto isn't the most spectacular centre-back in Serie A, but his reliability makes him invaluable. In a season where Cremonese have desperately needed stability, the former Lecce man has become the immovable foundation upon which any survival hopes must be built. If they escape the drop, it will be on the broad shoulders of their defensive anchor.