Charles Pickel

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

At RCD Espanyol Barcelona, currently holding steady in 6th place in the table, Congolese midfielder Charles Pickel represents a quiet but calculated piece of the puzzle. The 28-year-old defensive midfielder, valued at €2.5m, has made just 2 appearances this season, accumulating 90 minutes on the pitch as he integrates into Espanyol's system. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, Pickel's game revolves around ball retention and distribution rather than goal production. With a 55-rated passing attribute, his role is to shield the backline and initiate attacks from deep—a crucial function that complements the more attack-minded talents around him, like left winger Javi Puado (67) and emerging striker Roberto Fernández. While his goal and assist tallies remain blank after two outings, Pickel's presence offers tactical flexibility. At 28, he's entering his prime years and brings a composed, positional discipline that could prove vital as Espanyol push for a top-half finish. His transition from European football to La Liga's demands suggests a player building toward a more significant role in the engine room.