Guillermo Maripán

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

Anchoring a Torino backline fighting to climb from 13th place in Serie A, Guillermo Maripán has been the granite foundation upon which Il Toro have built their defensive identity this season. The 31-year-old Chilean has racked up 24 appearances and nearly 2,000 minutes of action, a testament to his reliability as the team's defensive anchor. His aerial dominance has already produced two goals from set pieces - an invaluable contribution for a club seeking every advantage in a crowded mid-table battle. With a €4 million market value reflecting his experience and consistency, Maripán provides the physical presence (55) and defensive nous (55) that allows creative talents like Vlašić and Casadei to flourish ahead of him. While Torino's position suggests a transitional campaign, Maripán's dependability - evidenced by just two yellow cards across his 24 outings - offers the stability a manager craves. At an age where centre-backs traditionally hit their peak understanding of the game, Maripán continues to demonstrate why he's earned his stripes as a Serie A mainstay.