Equi Fernández

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

At the BayArena, a €20 million investment sits in patient anticipation. Equi Fernández, Bayer Leverkusen's 23-year-old Argentine defensive midfielder, finds himself in the shadows of Xabi Alonso's third-placed Werkself—a tantalizing talent waiting for his moment. Despite Leverkusen's DLWWL form keeping them firmly in title contention, Fernández has seen frustratingly limited action: just five substitute appearances totaling 360 minutes, with zero goals and zero assists to his name. The number 6 on his back has been anchored to the bench while Aleix García commands the engine room. Yet that valuation tells a different story. With a standout passing rating of 68, the deep-lying playmaker possesses the tempo-setting ability that defines Alonso's possession philosophy. That solitary yellow card in scant minutes hints at the competitive fire beneath the surface. For now, he's a project in stasis—modern defensive midfielder as luxury understudy. Leverkusen must decide: when does development end and the €20 million dividend begin?