Luca Ranieri

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

While ACF Fiorentina languish in 16th place with a troubling winless run (DWDLD), one man stands as a beacon of resilience in the Tuscan chaos. Hometown hero Luca Ranieri has been manager Raffaele Palladino's undisputed iron man this season—making an extraordinary 39 appearances and racking up 2,727 minutes that underscore his indispensable status at the Artemio Franchi. The 27-year-old Florence-born centre-back isn't merely surviving the storm; he's thriving within it, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist from the back—proof of his aerial menace at set-pieces. Four yellow cards against zero reds reveal the discipline behind his combative nature, while his defensive anchor role provides the steadying presence Fiorentina desperately need. Valued at €6 million and wearing the number 6 shirt, Ranieri carries the weight of his boyhood club's expectations. In a campaign where attacking talents like Moise Kean struggle for consistency, it's the local lad's remarkable availability and quiet mastery that make him La Viola's heartbeat—and perhaps their most valuable asset in a fight for survival.