Players like Abu Francis
CM/CDMCercle Brugge · 2024/25 · ranked by tactical + market fitAbu Francis's profile ↗
Abu Francis is a central midfielder/defensive midfielder for Cercle Brugge in the Belgian Pro League, having made 35 appearances in the 2024/25 season. Players similar to Francis include Lucas Robertone from Almería, with a fit score of 78, and Anouar El Azzouzi from PEC Zwolle, also at 78. Additionally, Jefferson Lerma of Crystal Palace and Enric Llansana from Go Ahead Eagles offer comparable roles, with fit scores of 79 and 81, respectively.
About Abu Francis
Abu Francis is a robust defensive midfielder, excelling in breaking up play and dominating aerial duels. His impressive metrics place him in the top 4% for duels won and tackles plus interceptions, showcasing his ability to disrupt the opposition effectively. While his attacking contributions are minimal, his overall quality remains solid, ranking in the top 35% among his peers. However, his injury history raises concerns about reliability, having missed significant time across recent seasons.
Strengths: Aerial duels won, Duels won, Aerial duels won %. Availability: 51 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to Abu Francis
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas Robertonesimilar↗ | Almería | 29 | €1.9m | 93 | 78 |
| 2 | Anouar El Azzouzisimilar↗ | PEC Zwolle | 25 | €1.6m | 92 | 78 |
| 3 | Jefferson Lermasimilar↗ | Crystal Palace | 32 | €5.5m | 92 | 79 |
| 4 | Enric Llansanasimilar↗ | Go Ahead Eagles | 25 | €2.1m | 91 | 81 |
| 5 | Darko Nejašmićsimilar↗ | NEC Nijmegen | 27 | €4.1m | 90 | 79 |
| 6 | Beñat Gerenabarrenasimilar↗ | CD Castellón | 23 | €1.0m | 90 | 81 |
| 7 | Yangel Herrerasimilar↗ | Girona FC | 28 | €5.6m | 89 | 79 |
| 8 | Lewis Mileysimilar↗ | Newcastle United | 20 | €27m | 89 | 80 |
| 9 | Matias Galarzasimilar↗ | KRC Genk | 24 | €5.0m | 89 | 79 |
| 10 | Alex Scottsimilar↗ | Bournemouth | 23 | €53m | 88 | 79 |
| 11 | Mats Wieffersimilar↗ | Feyenoord | 27 | €24m | 88 | 78 |
| 12 | Jackson Irvinesimilar↗ | FC St. Pauli | 33 | €1.1m | 88 | 79 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Abu Francis
≈ 100% Abu Francis · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Duels won /90, Touches /90
≈ 100% Abu Francis · strong: Clearances, Aerial duels won · low reliability
Strengths: Clearances /90, Aerial duels won /90, Duels won /90
≈ 100% Abu Francis · strong: Aerial duels won, Clearances · low reliability
Strengths: Aerial duels won /90, Clearances /90, Aerial duels won %
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Abu Francis?
By Doppel's fit score, Lucas Robertone (Almería) is the closest profile to Abu Francis, with a 78/100 overall match. Anouar El Azzouzi and Jefferson Lerma are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Abu Francis?
Yes. Beñat Gerenabarrena (CD Castellón) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 81/100 at roughly €1.0m.
How does Doppel find players similar to Abu Francis?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from Abu Francis's 2024/25 season, then ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they match, adjusting for league strength and market value.
Want the full, budget-aware shortlist with heatmaps and your own filters?
Run your own search on Doppel →