Exequiel Palacios

Key strength: Work rate

Box-to-box midfielder

Exequiel Palacios navigates a pivotal season at Bayer Leverkusen, where the club currently sits 6th in the Bundesliga table under Xabi Alonso's tactical stewardship. The 27-year-old Argentine World Cup winner has logged 270 minutes across 4 appearances this campaign, serving as Alonso's steady metronome in central midfield. Valued at €30 million, Palacios embodies the modern box-to-box profile—his FIFA ratings paint a portrait of balance: 70 passing, 65 dribbling, and 60 defending highlighting his dual capacity as both a progressive ball-carrier and a defensive shield. While yet to register a goal or assist contribution this season, his value lies deeper in tempo control and his relentless work rate. Surrounded by attacking talents like Patrik Schick and Malik Tillman up front, with defensive anchor Edmond Tapsoba behind him, Palacios operates as the connective tissue of Leverkusen's spine. His early-season fitness and integration remain crucial variables as the club pushes to reclaim Champions League positioning. That 2022 World Cup-winning pedigree—honed under Lionel Scaloni with Argentina—could prove the decisive intangible as Leverkusen navigate the congested autumn fixture list.