Forgot to shoutout Nico Barella. One of the best midfielders in football atm. Arguably the best. Madrid should take him to replace Modric. Would solve any future Madrid's coaches headache of balancing attacking and defensive players.

Football is a simple game. You have attacking players and defensive players. You need to do either very well to justify your worth. Players that can do both though... Cheat code. They can rob it from you and do serious damage.

Usually, there's the coaches headache. Do I add another lightweight passer/playmaker in midfield or do I add a defensive midfielder? One weakens you at the back and strengthens you going forward. Vice Versa. These 2 way players solve both problems.

Paul Pogba can be this player in theory but completely lacks the mentality to do so. Only wants to be an attacker. This is what limits many. Thiago has the mentality but lacks the speed and fitness.

Partey, Rice, Soumaré, Ndombele, Barella, McGinn, McTominay, Kanté, Ramsey etc are all this kind of player to various degrees of ability and attacking/defensive balance. Ballack is the ultimate player of this ilk, however many of them never get the chance pushed forward.

Paulinho scored 9 league goals at Barcelona in 17/18 pushed up the pitch once his team needed a goal. He even bagged the opening goal in a WC group game by roaming. Some of these types are tactically disciplined, so are responsible with the freedom. https://twitter.com/CAlibeyogullari/status/1012121881225416705?s=20