5 centre-backs to watch out for this World cup

#2 José Giménez

The 23-year-old Uruguayan has a £57 million release clause in his contract.

José Giménez moved to Atletico Madrid in 2013 for a modest €900,000 from for Danubio F.C. in the Uruguayan Primera División. Fast-forward to 2017, Atletico’s 23-year-old Uruguayan is a crucial clog in the team that has kept 18 clean sheets in 29 games conceding only 14 goals so far in the domestic campaign.

With the experienced Diego Godin and Felipe Luiz at his side and the talented Jan Oblak behind him in goal, Giménez has developed into a fine centre-back, who started initially on the bench for Simeone, but has gained his confidence in a preferred back four and has not missed many games in recent times for the Mattressers.

While a pairing of Godin and Savic results in a defense that sits back to invite more and more pressure as a match moves along, including Giménez changes the dynamics completely. A constantly active defender chasing and harassing forwards, he channels his aggressiveness and combines that with his outstanding athleticism.

This results in Gimenez taking control of the game with a destructive display in the center of the park and initiating attacks from the deep due to his speed and at 6ft-2in, he often wins most of the aerial duels he contests.

From being a talented but error-prone center back in his initial days at Atletico to becoming a core member of a miserly defense, his versatility now offers Simeone more solutions - whether he’s being rotated, starting regularly or filling-in in an emergency capacity.

The 23 year-old center back for Uruguay is already raising eyebrows in Europe and a World-Cup campaign, that sees him partner Diego Godin - his captain for both club and country, is only going to make his talent as an advanced ball-playing defender flourish at the biggest stage.

With clubs like Arsenal, Juventus and Manchester United interested in his services, Russia is going to be a vital chapter in Gimeneze's career, if he wishes to move on.