Who should replace Zé Rafael?
CM/CDMSantos · 2020/25 · ranked by tactical + market fitZé Rafael's profile ↗
If a club needs to replace Zé Rafael, the best-fitting central midfielders are Bruno Leite, Ezechiel Banzuzi, Brecht Dejaegere. Bruno Leite (Haugesund) matches the role at 93/100 on tactical profile (79/100 overall). A cheaper option: Bruno Leite at about €200k. Data as of July 2026.
Best replacements for Zé Rafael
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Leitesimilar↗ | Haugesund | 31 | €200k | 93 | 79 |
| 2 | Ezechiel Banzuzisimilar↗ | Oud-Heverlee Leuven | 21 | €17m | 92 | 79 |
| 3 | Brecht Dejaegeresimilar↗ | KV Kortrijk | 35 | €300k | 92 | 78 |
| 4 | Noah Mbambasimilar↗ | FCV Dender | 21 | €1.8m | 92 | 80 |
| 5 | Amadou Keitasimilar↗ | KAS Eupen | 25 | €300k | 91 | 79 |
| 6 | Lawrence Agyekumsimilar↗ | Cercle Brugge | 23 | €1.4m | 91 | 81 |
| 7 | Muammer Sarıkayasimilar↗ | Çaykur Rizespor | 28 | €300k | 91 | 83 |
| 8 | Faisal Al-Ghamdisimilar↗ | K. Beerschot V.A. | 25 | €1.2m | 91 | 79 |
| 9 | David Krusesimilar↗ | IFK Göteborg | 24 | €800k | 90 | 80 |
| 10 | Niklas Odegardsimilar↗ | Kristiansund BK | 22 | €600k | 90 | 79 |
| 11 | Kolbeinn Thordarsonsimilar↗ | IFK Göteborg | 26 | €1.0m | 90 | 79 |
| 12 | Mathias De Amorimsimilar↗ | Famalicão | 22 | €9.7m | 90 | 80 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · data: Sofascore, last 3 seasons
Why these players match Zé Rafael
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Duels won, Tackles + interceptions · medium reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Tackles + interceptions /90, Successful dribbles /90
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Duels won, Aerial duels won % · low reliability
Strengths: Duels won /90, Aerial duels won %, Aerial duels won /90
≈ 100% Zé Rafael · strong: Tackles + interceptions, Duels won · medium reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90, Duels won /90, Accurate crosses /90
FAQ
Who is the best replacement for Zé Rafael?
By Doppel's tactical-fit score, Bruno Leite (Haugesund) does the closest job to Zé Rafael, at 93/100 on profile. Ezechiel Banzuzi and Brecht Dejaegere follow.
Is there a cheaper player who can replace Zé Rafael?
Yes — Bruno Leite (Haugesund) plays a similar central midfielder role at roughly €200k, a 79/100 match.
How does Doppel find replacements for Zé Rafael?
Doppel learns Zé Rafael's role profile from his 2020/25 season and ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they do the same job, adjusted for league strength.
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