Midfield
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Given we’re describing the best players to play in a 4-2-3-1 system, we’re going to include the central attacking midfielder in this slide. South America has produced fine midfield talents over the past few decades – especially two kinds: the creative kind and the destroyer kind. And we have the best of both in this midfield.
On the left side of the two-man pivot, we have Manchester City’s Fernandinho holding the fort. The 31-year-old was seen as the kind of Cruyffian midfielder Pep Guardiola would base his team on but with a host of issues in the disciplinary department, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.
Nonetheless, the Brazilian is valued at €28 million and is still one of the better midfield players the Citizens are able to call upon.
Alongside the Brazilian sits Bayern Munich’s engine, Arturo Vidal. The 29-year-old box-to-box midfielder is perhaps one of the most complete midfielders in the game with his ability to defend and attack equally well. He’s at the right age now and amongst a world-class squad – just the right ingredients for him to hit peak form soon.
The Chilean is valued at €40 million and is one of the reasons – along with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez – that his national team have won the last two Copa America titles.
Ahead of these two midfielders is the slightly more finesse footballer in Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez. The 25-year-old is one of the most highly rated footballers in the world currently – even though he’s unable to nail down a starting spot under Zinedine Zidane at the club.
At €70 million, he’s the highest rated player in this list barring the forwards. While his future at the Madrid club seems bleak, a move to another European giant could pretty much kick-start his career once again – allowing him to reach the kind of heights he did when he won the Golden Boot award at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
