Zé Rafael alternatives
CM/CDMSantos · 2025 · ranked by tactical + market fitZé Rafael's profile ↗
Zé Rafael is a central midfielder/defensive midfielder for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A, with 27 appearances and 1 goal in 2025. For clubs seeking a cheaper alternative to Zé Rafael, players like Manolo Portanova from Reggiana, Daniel Requena from Levante UD, and Noah Naujoks from Excelsior all offer similar roles with a market value of €0m and €1m respectively, each boasting a fit score of 84/100.
Building your XI? Put Zé Rafael in a lineup and get the whole team rated on real data.Build a lineup →12 cheaper alternatives to Zé Rafael
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manolo Portanovasimilar↗ | Reggiana | 26 | €200k | 88 | 85 |
| 2 | Daniel Requenasimilar↗ | Levante UD | 22 | €1.0m | 95 | 85 |
| 3 | Noah Naujokssimilar↗ | Excelsior | 24 | €1.4m | 83 | 85 |
| 4 | Frederik Schmahlsimilar↗ | SV 07 Elversberg | 24 | €800k | 89 | 84 |
| 5 | Marvin Mehlemsimilar↗ | Arminia Bielefeld | 29 | €800k | 88 | 83 |
| 6 | Davy van den Bergsimilar↗ | FC Utrecht | 26 | €1.3m | 87 | 81 |
| 7 | Lawrence Agyekumsimilar↗ | Cercle Brugge | 23 | €1.4m | 91 | 81 |
| 8 | Khalil Fayadsimilar↗ | Montpellier | 22 | €1.5m | 88 | 81 |
| 9 | Jandro Orellanasimilar↗ | Estoril Praia | 26 | €1.0m | 92 | 81 |
| 10 | Beñat Gerenabarrenasimilar↗ | Athletic Club | 23 | €1.0m | 89 | 80 |
| 11 | Emre Akbabasimilar↗ | Eyüpspor | 34 | €400k | 86 | 80 |
| 12 | Nordin Bukalasimilar↗ | FC Volendam | 21 | €600k | 89 | 80 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match Zé Rafael
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Non-penalty goals · low reliability
Strengths: Non-penalty goals /90
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Aerial duels won, Duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Duels won /90, Aerial duels won %
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Non-penalty goals, Shots · low reliability
Strengths: Non-penalty goals /90, Shots /90, xG + xA /90
FAQ
What is the cheapest alternative to Zé Rafael?
Manolo Portanova (Reggiana) is among the most affordable similar profiles, at roughly €200k with a 85/100 match to Zé Rafael.
Who is the best-value alternative to Zé Rafael?
Manolo Portanova offers the best balance of fit and price among the alternatives, rated 85/100 at about €200k.
How does Doppel choose alternatives to Zé Rafael?
Doppel ranks players in the same detailed position (central midfielder) by how closely they match Zé Rafael's statistical profile, then keeps those priced below him — league-strength adjusted, top leagues across Europe and South America, last 3 seasons.
Want the full, budget-aware shortlist with heatmaps and your own filters?
Run your own search on Doppel →