Neil El Aynaoui

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

Sitting 6th in the table with a recent run of WDWLW, AS Roma are finding their footing after a turbulent spell, and Neil El Aynaoui has emerged as the beating heart of their resurgence. The 24-year-old Moroccan international, valued at €23.5 million, has quietly accumulated 28 appearances and 1,362 minutes this season—an ever-present force in the Giallorossi engine room. While his modest return of 1 goal and 1 assist might escape headlines, El Aynaoui's true currency lies in his tireless industry. Operating as a box-to-box dynamo alongside the technically gifted Manu Koné, he provides the defensive scaffolding that frees Roma's creators to flourish. His four yellow cards across 28 outings reveal a player who competes fiercely but intelligently—breaking up transitions, winning second balls, and covering ground others simply won't. Wearing the number 8, El Aynaoui is the selfless workhorse who makes the symphony possible. As Roma push to salvage their European ambitions, his reliability offers the foundation they desperately need.