3. Nicolas Otamendi- Valencia CF
The reputations of Valencia CF, along with the pair of Basque clubs is gradually augmenting in player blooming sector, off late. Bayern Munich’s Juan Bernat and Man United’s Ander Herrera are latest examples of those players who have risen through the pecking order to earn a name for themselves. The latest possible one is turning out to be Argentine centre back, Nicolas Otamendi. Along with Tottenham’s Federico Fazio, Otamendi is emerging as a vital part of a new crop of powerful centre halves with an uncompromising playing style. He is known for being a brilliant reader of the opposition’s game and his head stays as cool as a cucumber, mostly.
The former FC Porto man stands almost 6 ft tall and has time and time again shown that he’s one brilliant anticipator and loves to intercept play, even in the toughest of challenges evident from the fact that he makes an average of 2.7 interceptions per game. His versatility at right full back will come in handy for any team in the world, let alone Manchester United or the team he’s been linked with- Chelsea. He has some amount of experience under his belt, featuring 16 times for the senior Argentine squad and his former Vélez gaffer once said, in praise of him “He plays like a veteran. In centre-backs, cases like this are very rare”.
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