Baptiste Santamaria

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

At the heart of Valencia's quietly impressive campaign sits Baptiste Santamaria, the 31-year-old Frenchman providing the steadying hand Los Che desperately need. With Valencia currently occupying 3rd place and riding a promising WWDWL run, Santamaria's understated brilliance has been instrumental in their climb toward European contention. The €2 million-rated defensive midfielder won't dominate highlight reels with his solitary goal and two assists across 22 appearances, but his 1,015 minutes of metronomic distribution tell a different story. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker with his 55-rated passing ability, Santamaria recycles possession with machine-like efficiency—offering the crucial foundation for teammates Hugo Duro and Largie Ramazani to flourish ahead of him. He faces stiff competition from the higher-rated Pepelu (68) for his starting berth, yet his experience continues to prove invaluable. As Valencia blend youthful promise with seasoned campaigners, this French anchor embodies the quiet professionalism of a player who breaks up opposition play and maintains composure when rivals press high. Santamaria's unsung contributions remain vital to Los Che's rhythm as they dream of a return to continental football.