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Defensive midfielder: Carlos Casemiro (Real Madrid/ Brazil) - €60m
Carlos Casemiro is definitely one of the most underrated players in world football. With a total of 14 major trophies, he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
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The Brazilian joined Real Madrid in 2013, was loaned to Porto in 2014 and returned to Madrid in 2015. He was a key feature in Madrid's three-peat UCL winning squad.
Nicknamed "Destroyer" by the media, Casemiro is known for his raw energy, consistency, tactical awareness and mentality. He is also an aggressive and hard tackling midfielder which has led to a lot of criticism. But overall, his competitive nature and versatility makes him preeminent.
Defensive midfielder: Fabinho Tavares (Liverpool/ Brazil) - €60m
Fabinho Tavares, popularly referred to as Fabinho, is the epitome of a utility player. He occasionally plays as a centre-back or a right back.
Fabinho joined Liverpool from AS Monaco in 2018 for £39m. Despite being his debut season, Fabinho sent shock waves to the Premier League with his sensational interceptions and accurate passes. He was a major element in the team's Champions League victory.
The following season, he helped secure Liverpool's first Premier League title, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. He has also been key so far this season, chipping in with some goals along with his defensive solidity.
Central midfielder: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/ Uruguay) - €65m
Federico Valverde joined Real Madrid in 2016 but was sent to the B team. The following season, he was loaned to Derpotivo de la Coruna.
In 2018, he returned to Madrid and made his first senior appearance in the Champions League against Viktoria Plzen.The Uruguayan won the FIFA Club World Cup, making 25 appearances without scoring a single goal.
In the 2019-2020 season when Madrid won the La Liga title, he made 33 appearances, scoring two goals. Valverde is known for his balance between attack and defense and well timed effective tackles.
