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#3 Nahitan Nandez
Nahitan Nandez is the embodiment of the garra charrua Uruguayan spirit which translates to 'defying all odds'. A defensive midfielder by trade, he has performed at his tenacious best this campaign, averaging a fine 3.8 tackles and interceptions for Boca Juniors. During the 2018 World Cup, Nandez shone as a complete package in the middle of the park and is perhaps the most complete in his position out of Uruguay’s current crop of gifted midfielders.
While he tends to operate from the base of midfield, Nandez’s precise passing and surging runs can also enable him to thrive as a box-to-box midfielder. Much like Manchester City’s Fernandinho, the Uruguay international is also comfortable with the ball at his feet which makes him an effective ball-carrier as he often kicks his side’s counter-attack into gear. Nandez’s versatility sets him apart from his national counterparts as Oscar Tabarez often deployed the 23-year old in a tucked-inside right wing position.
In a Uruguayan midfield that boasts a wealth of talent in Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira and Matias Vecino, Nandez’s unbelievable footballing brain makes him an indispensable cog in the side that will live up to its ‘contenders’ tag at the Copa America.
