World Cup Player Transfer Market Value Analysis: Spain and Germany have the highest average player value (APV) index in the tournament

World Cup Absolute APV figures (Market Value data from transfermarkt.com):

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Spain has the highest APV of all the squads at the World Cup, at 27.04M Euros, which is 221% higher than the World Cup APV of 8.43M Euros
• The World Cup APV is higher than that of the English Premier League (7.35M Euros), Spanish La Liga (5.3M Euros), Italian Serie A (4.2M Euros), German Bundesliga (4.1M Euros) and French Ligue 1 (2.89M Euros)
• Germany (24.43M Euros, 190% higher than World Cup average) and Brazil (20.33M Euros, 141% higher than World Cup Average) have the second and third highest APVs in the tournament respectively (See charts above and below)
• 11 out of 32 World Cup teams have an APV higher than that of the tournament (see chart below)
• Croatia's APV (8.4M Euros) is equal to that of the tournament, while Colombia's APV (8.27M Euros, 2% below World Cup APV) is the highest of all teams with an APV lower than the tournament average
• Australia and Honduras have the lowest APVs of all the teams at the World Cup with an APV of about 0.92M Euros, 89% below that of the tournament average

World Cup Average Player Value Index (Market Value data from transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group H Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group H, Belgium has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 348M Euros and an Average Player Value (APV) of 15.13M Euros
• Belgium's APV is about 117.4% than that of the group
• Eden Hazard (45M Euros, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (35M Euros, Manchester City) and Axel Witsel (35M Euros, Zenit) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only three players in the squad still play in Belgium
• Laurent Ciman (3.2M Euros, Standard Liege)
• Anthony Vanden Borre (2M Euros, Anderlecht)
• Sammy Bossut (1.8M Euros, Zulte Waregem) 
• Russia has the second highest Total TMV in the group at 183.8M Euros and an APV of 7.99M Euros
• Russia's APV is about 14.8% higher than that of the group
• Alan Dzagoev (23M Euros, CSKA Moscow), Igor Akinfeev (20M Euros, CSKA Moscow) and Aleksandr Kokorin (18M Euros, Dinamo Moscow) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• All 23 of Russia's players play domestically
• Algeria has the third highest total TMV in the group at 57.2M Euros and an APV of 2.49M Euros
• Algeria's APV is about 64% lower than that of the group
• Sofiane Feghouli (12M Euros, Valencia), Saphir Taider (10M Euros, Inter Milan) and Faouzi Ghoulam (5M Euros, Napoli) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Only 2 of Algeria's 23 ply their trade domestically
• Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (0.6M Euros, USM Alger)
• Cedric (0.5M Euros, CS Constantine)
• South Korea (Republic of Korea) has the lowest total TMV in the group at 51.93M Euros and an APV of 2.26M Euros
• South Korea's APV is about 68% lower than that of the group
• Heung Min-Son (14M Euros, Bayer Leverkusen), Sung-Yong Ki (6.5M Euros, Sunderland) and Ja-Cheol Koo (5M Euros, Mainz)
• 6 out of South Korea's 23 players still play their football domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to 6.96M Euro Group H APV

World Cup Group G Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group G, Germany has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 562M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 24.43M Euros
• Germany's APV is about 122% higher than the 11.01M Euro APV of the group. Group G's APV of 11.01M Euros is the highest of any group this World Cup
• Mario Gotze (55M Euros, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (50M Euros, Arsenal), and Thomas Muller (45M Euros, Bayern Munich) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 7 out of Germany's 23 ply their trade outside of the Bundesliga
• Mesut Ozil (45M Euros, Arsenal)
• Lukas Podolski (23M Euros, Arsenal)
• Sami Khedira (22M Euros, Real Madrid)
• Andre Schurrle (20M Euros, Chelsea)
• Per Mertesacker (18M Euros, Arsenal)
• Shkodran Mustafi (4M Euros, Sampdoria)
• Miroslav Klose (1M Euros, Lazio)
• Portugal has the second highest total TMV of 297.25 and an APV of 12.92M Euros
• Portugal's APV is about 17.4% higher that that of the group
• Cristiano Ronaldo (100M Euros, Real Madrid), Joao Moutinho (30M Euros, Monaco) and Rui Patricio (20M Euros, Sporting Lisbon) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of Portugal's 23 play their football domestically
• Rui Patricio (20M Euros, Sporting Lisbon)
• Eder (8M Euros, Braga)
• William Carvalho (8M Euros, Sporting Lisbon)
• Silvestre Varela (7.5M Euros, Porto)
• Ruben Amorim (4.5M Euros, Benfica)
• Andre Almeida (4.5M Euros, Benfica)
• Rafa Silva (4.5M Euro, Braga)
• Eduardo (3.5M Euros, Braga)
• Ghana has the third highest total TMV of 96.35M Euros and an APV of 4.19M Euros
• Ghana's TMV is about 62% lower than that of the group
• Kwadwo Asamoah (20M Euros, Juventus), Kevin-Prince Boateng (15M Euros, Schalke) and Andre Ayew (12M Euros) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Stephen Adams is the only member of the squad still playing in Ghana
• USA has the lowest total TMV in the group at 57.8M Euros, and an APV of 2.51M Euros
• The US squad APV is about 77% below that of the group
• Clint Dempsey (7M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Bradley (6.5M Euros, Toronto FC) and Jozy Altidore (6M Euros, Sunderland) have the highest TMVs on the squad
• 10 out of the 23 man US squad ply their trade in MLS
• Clint Dempsey (7M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC)
• Michael Bradley (6.5M Euros, Toronto FC)
• Chris Wondolowsi (1.5M Euros, San Jose Earthquakes)
• Kyle Beckerman (0.75M Euros, Real Salt Lake)
• Brad Davis (0.75M Euros, Houston Dynamo)
• Nick Rimando (0.6M Euros, Real Salt Lake)
• Graham Zusi (0.5M Euros, Sporting Kansas City)
• Omar Gonzalez (0.4M Euros, LA Galaxy)
• Matt Besler (0.4M Euros, Sporting Kansas City)
• DeAndre Yedlin (0.25M Euros, Seattle Sounders FC)

Transfer Market Value Index relative to 11.01M Euro G APV

World Cup Group F Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group F, Argentina has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 391.5M Euros and an Average player value (APV) of 17.02M Euros
• Argentina's APV is about 153.3% higher than that of the group
• Lionel Messi (120M Euros, Barcelona), Kun Aguero (45M Euros, Man City) and Gonzalo Higuain (38M Euros, Napoli) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 players in Argentina's squad still play domestically
• Fernando Gago (4M Euros, Boca Juniors)
• Maxi Rodriguez (2M Euros, Newell's Old Boys)
• Agustin Orion (1M Euros, Boca Juniors)
• Bosnia has the second highest TMV in the group at 114.95M Euros and an APV of 5M Euros
• Bosnia's APV is 25.6% lower than that of the group
• Edin Dzeko (24M Euros, Man City), Miralem Pjanic (20M Euros, AS Roma), and Vedad Ibisevic (Stuttgart, 10M Euros)|Asmir Begovic (10M Euros, Stoke City)|Senad Lulic (10M Euros, Lazio) have the highest TMV on the team
• Only Asmir Avdukic (0.4M Euros, Borac Banja Luka) plays his football in Bosnia
• Nigeria has the third highest TMV in the group at 86.85M Euros and an APV of 3.78M Euros
• Nigeria's APV is about 44% lower than that of the group
• John Obi Mikel (20M Euros, Chelsea), Emmanuel Emenike (14M Euros, Fenerbahce) and Ahmed Musa (12M Euros, CSKA Moscow) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• None of Nigeria's players still play domestically
• Iran has by far the lowest TMV in the group at 24.1M Euros and an APV of 1.05M Euros
• Iran's APV is about 84% lower than that of the group
• Ashkan Dejagah (3M Euros, Fulham), Andranik Teymourian (2M Euros, Esteghlal FC and Jalal Hosseini (2M Euros, Persepolis) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 out of Iran's 23-man squad play their football outside of their home country

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group F Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group E Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group E, France has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 411.75M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 17.9M Euros
• France's APV is about 144.5% higher than the 7.32M Euro APV of the group
• In the absence of Ribery (42M Euros, Bayern Munich), Pogba (45M Euros, Juventus), Benzema (34M Euros, Real Madrid) and Griezmann (25M Euros, Real Sociedad) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of France's 23 still ply their trade in Ligue 1
• Yohan Cabaye (22M Euros, PSG)
• Blaise Matuidi (20M Euros, PSG)
• Mathieu Valbuena (14M Euros, Marseille)
• Remy Cabella (10M Euros, Montpellier)
• Lucas Digne (10M Euros, PSG)
• Stephane Rouffier (9M Euros, Saint Etienne)
• Rio Mavuba (7.5M Euros, Lille)
• Mickael Landreau (1.75M Euros, Bastia)
• Switzerland, seeded top of Group E, has the second highest TMV at 178M Euros and an APV of 7.74M Euros
• Switzerland's APV is about 6% higher than that of the group
• Ricardo Rodriguez (20M Euros, Wolfsburg), Xherdan Shaqiri (20M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (17M Euros, Juventus) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 7 out of France's 23 still ply their trade domestically
• Yann Sommer (8M Euros, Basel)
• Fabian Schar (8M Euros, Basel)
• Valentin Stocker (7M Euros, Basel)
• Roman Burki (2.5M Euros, Grasshopper Zurich)
• Steve Von Berger (1.5M Euros, Young Boys)
• Michael Lang (1.5M Euros, Grasshopper Zurich)
• Mario Gavranovic (1.5M Euros, FC Zurich)
• Ecuador has the third highest total TMV of 62.85M Euros and an APV of 2.73M Euros
• Ecuador's APV is 63% lower than that of the group
• Antonio Valencia  (16M Euros, Manchester United), Christian Noboa (9M Euros, Dinamo Moscow) and Felipe Caicedo (5M Euros, Al-Jazira) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 8 out of the Ecuador's 23 still ply their trade domestically
• Alexander Dominguez (1.6M Euros, LDU Quito)
• Gabriel Achilier (1.6M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Maximo Banguera (1.4M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Juan Carlos Paredes (1.4M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Luis Saritama (1M Euros, Barcelona Guayaquil)
• Jorge Guagua (1M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Adrian Bone (1M Euros, El Nacional)
• Oscar Bagui (1M Euros, CS Emelec)
• Honduras has the lowest total TMV in the group at 21.15M Euros and an APV of 0.92M Euros
• Greece's APV is about 87% below that of the group
• Emilio Izaguirre (4.25M Euros, Celtic FC), Maynor Figueroa (4M Euros, Hull City) and Andy Najar (2M Euros, Anderlecht) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 11 out of Honduras' 23 still play their football domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group E Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group D Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group D, England marginally has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 334M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 14.52M Euros
• England's APV is about 48% higher than the 9.83M Euro APV of the group
• Wayne Rooney (45M Euros, Man United), Jack Wilshere (33M Euros, Arsenal) and Leighton Baines (20M Euros, Everton) / Daniel Sturridge (20M Euros, Liverpool) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 26 year old Celtic goal keeper Fraser Foster plies hid trade outside of the English Premier League
• Italy has the second highest TMV in the group at 323M Euros and an APV of 14.04M
• Italy's APV is about 43% higher than that of the group
• Balotelli (30M Euros, Milan), Marchisio (28M Euros, Juventus) and Chiellini (24M Euros, Juventus) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out the Azzurri 23 play outside of Italy's Serie A
• Salvatore Sirigu (20.5M Euros, PSG)
• Marco Veratti (20M Euros, PSG)
• Thiago Motta (8.5M Euros, PSG)
• Uruguay has the third highest TMV in the group at 217.63M Euros and an APV of 9.46M Euros
• Uruguay's APV is slightly (about 4%) below that of the group
• Edinson Cavani (60M Euros, PSG), Luis Suarez (52M Euros, Liverpool) and Diego Godin (20M Euros, Atletico Madrid) have the highest TMVs in the group
• Only Sebastian Coates plays in Uruguay (2.5M Euros, National Montevideo on loan from Liverpool)
• Costa Rica has by far the lowest total TMV in the group at 29.63M Euros, and an APV of 1.29M Euros
• Costa Rica's APV is about 87% below that of the group
• Bryan Ruiz (8M Euros, PSV), Joel Campbell (5M Euros, Olympiacos on loan from Arsenal) and Keylor Navas (4M Euros, Levante) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 Costa Rican National Team players still ply their trade domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group D Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group C Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Arguably the most balanced of all groups in the World Cup, Group C has an Average Player Value (APV) of 5.32M Euros. Colombia has the highest valuation in the group with a total Transfer Market Value (TMV) of 190.2M and an APV of 8.27
• Colombia's APV is about 55% higher than that of the group
• In the absence of Radamel Falcao (60M Euros, Monaco), James Rodriguez (35M Euros, Monaco), Jackson Martinez (30M Euros, Porto) and Juan Cuadrado (24M Euros, Fiorentina) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out of Colombia's 23 play their football domestically
• Camilo Vargas (25 year old Santa Fe goal keeper valued at 0.9M Euros
• Alexander Mejia (25 year old Atletico Nacional central midfielder valued at 0.85M Euros
• Faryd Mondragon (42 year old Deportivo Cali goal keeper valued at 0.25M Euros
• Ivory Coast has the the second highest total TMV of 121.7M Euros and an APV of 5.29 Euros
• Ivory Coast's APV is approximately equal to that of group C
• Yaya Toure (30M Euros, Man City), Gervinho (16M Euros, Roma) and Wilfried Bony (15M Euros, Swansea) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only Sylvain Gbohouo (25 year old San Pedro goal keeper) still plays his football domestically
• Japan has the third highest total TMV in the group at 98M Euros and an APV of 4.26M Euros
• Japan's APV is about 20% below that of the group
• Honda (17M Euros, Milan), Kagawa (17M Euros, Manchester United) and Nagatomo (14M Euros, Inter) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• With 12 players in the J-League, Japan have a good blend of players plying their trade domestically and abroad
• Greece has the lowest total TMV in the group at 79.9M Euros and an APV of 3.47M Euros
• Greece's 3.47M APV is about 35% lower than the 5.32M APV of the group
• Sokratis (15M Euros, Borussia Dortmund), Mitroglu (12M Euros, Fulham), and Manolas (6M Euros, Olympiacos) have the highest TMV in the squad
• 9 of Greece's player still play domestically

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group C Average Player Value (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group B Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group B, Spain has the highest total transfer market value (TMV) of 622M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 27.04M Euros. Spain's APV is the highest of any squad at the World Cup
• Spain's APV is about 151% higher than the 10.76M Euro APV of the group
• Iniesta (55M Euros, Barcelona), Fabregas (50M Euros, Barcelona) and Busquets (45M Euros, Barcelona) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 9 out of La Roja's 23 play their football outside of Spain
• David Silva (40M Euros, Manchester City)
• Juan Mata (40M Euros, Manchester United)
• Javi Martinez (37M Euros, Bayern Munich)
• Santi Cazorla (30M Euros, Arsenal)
• Fernando Torres (19M Euros, Chelsea)
• Cesar Azpilicueta (18M Euros, Chelsea)
• David De Gea (17M Euros, Manchester United)
• Raul Albiol (12M Euros, Napoli)
• Pepe Reina (10M Euros, Napoli)
• Holland has the second highest total TMV of 207.5M Euros and an APV of 9.02M Euros
• Holland's APV is about 16% lower than the 10.76M Euro APV of the group
• Robin Van Persie (40M Euros, Manchester United), Robben (25M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Sneijder (17M Euros, Galatasaray) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• 13 dutch players ply their trade outside of Holland
• Chile has the third highest total TMV of 139.3M Euros and an APV of 6.06M Euros
• Chile's APV is about 44% lower than the 10.76M of the group
• Arturo Vidal (44M Euros, Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (30M Euros, Barcelona) and Gary Medel (11M Euros, Cardiff) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 5 Chileans still play their football domestically
• Esteban Paredes (33 year old Colo Colo left winger valued at 1.5M Euros)
• Cristopher Toselli (25 year old Universidad Catolica Goal Keeper valued at 1.2M Euros)
• Johnny Herrera (33 year old Universidad de Chile Goal Keeper valued at 1M Euros)
• Jose Rojas (30 year old Universidad de Chile center back valued at 0.9M Euros)
• Jose Fuenzalida (29 year old Colo Colo right sided midfielder valued at 0.8M Euros)
• Australia has the lowest total TMV of 21.34M Euros and an APV of 0.93M Euros
• Australia's APV is about 91% below that of the group
• Mile Jedinak (2.5M Euros, Crystal Palace), Matthew Ryan (2.5M Euros, Club Brugges) and James Holland (1.5M Euros, Austria Vienna)
• Only 7 Australians still play their football domestically
• James Troisi (25 year old Melbourne left wing valued at 1.2M Euros)
• Eugene Galekovic (32 year old Adelaide goal keeper valued at 1M Euros)
• Mark Milligan (28 year old Melbourne midfielder valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Adam Taggart (21 year old Newcastle Jets forward valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Ivan Franjic (26 year old Brisbane right back valued at 0.6M Euros)
• Matt Mckay (31 year old Brisbane midfielder valued at 0.55M Euros)
• Matthew Spiranovic (25 year old Sydney centre back valued at 0.5M Euros)

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group B Average Player Value (Market Value data from Transfermarkt.com):

World Cup Group A Analysis of Squad Transfer Market Valuations

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• In Group A, Brazil has the highest total Transfer Market Value (TMV) of 467.5M Euros and an average player value (APV) of 20.33M Euros
• Brazil's APV is about 114% higher than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Neymar (60M Euros, Barcelona), Hulk (48M Euros, Zenit) and Thiago Silva (40M Euros, PSG) have the the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 4 out of Brazil's 23 play their football domestically
• Jo (27 year old Atletico Mineiro forward valued at 4M Euros)
• Victor (31 year old Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper valued at 4M Euros)
• Jefferson (31 year old Botafogo goalkeeper valued at 3M Euros)
• Julio Cesar (34 year old Toronto FC goalkeeper valued at 2.5M Euros)
• Croatia has the second highest total TMV of 193.25M Euros and an APV of 8.4M Euros
• Croatia's APV is about 12% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Modric (40M Euros, Real Madrid), Mandzukic (30M Euros, Bayern Munich) and Rakitic (20M Euros, Sevilla) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 3 out of Croatia's 23 play their football domestically
• Brozovic (21 year old Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder valued at 3M Euros)
• Mocinic (21 year old HNK Rijeka defensive midfielder valued at 1M Euros)
• Zelenika (21 year old NK Lokomtiva goalkeeper valued at 0.75M Euros)
• Cameroon has the third highest total TMV of 118.45M Euros and an APV of 5.15M Euros
• Cameroon's APV is about 46% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Song (18M Euros, Barcelona), N'koulou (13M Euros, Marseille) and Matip (13M Euros, Schalke) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 2 (Loic Feudjou and Cedric Djeugoue, both of Coton Sport) out of Cameroon's 23 play their football domestically
• Mexico has the lowest total TMV of 96.55M Euros and an APV of 4.2M Euros
• Mexico's APV is 56% lower than the 9.52M APV of the group
• Chicharito (16M Euros, Manchester United) and Dos Santos (10M Euros, Villareal) have the highest TMVs in the squad
• Only 8 out of Mexico's 23 play their football outside of their home country

Transfer Market Value Index relative to Group A Average Player Value (Market Value Data from Transfermarkt.com)

Serge Aurier: Value for money

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• 21 year old Ivorian International full-back Serge Aurier has had a stellar season for Toulouse in France's Ligue 1, and is set to feature in Ivory Coast's starting 11 in Brazil this Summer, having moved ahead of Emmanuel Eboue in the pecking order
• Aurier, who just completed his second year at Toulouse, finished the season with an impressive 6 goals and 6 assists from his full-back position. Defensively, he averaged 2.8 tackles per game (94 tackles) and 2.2 interceptions per game (75 interceptions), committing only about 1 foul per game in the process
• The Ivorian star, currently valued at 6.5M Euros by Transfermarkt.com is rumored to be close to signing for Arsenal in a deal reported to be around 7M Pounds
•  Should the deal go through, Aurier should serve as a more than adequate replacement for the outgoing Bacary Sagna 

Serge Aurier Statistics from whoscored.com:
Overall:

Defensive:

Offensive:

Atletico Madrid's season serves as the latest reminder of what clubs with significantly less resources can achieve with a strategy

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Even though, Atletico Madrid's Average Player Value (APV) of 12.8M Euros is about half that of La Liga rivals Real Madrid (24.8M Euros) and Barcelona (23.5M Euros), Los Colchoneros won the Spanish La Liga title and came within 5 minutes of winning the Champions league
• In Diego Simeone, Los Rojiblancos have a manager with a clear strategy and it's evident watching them play that every single one of his players has a very good understanding of what's expected tactically
• Atletico Madrid has lost a series of world class strikers over the past few seasons (Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero and Radamel Falcao) and are set to lose Diego Costa to Chelsea this summer, yet the system the club has in place ensures that they can replace these outgoing strikers without allowing the level of the team to drop
• Atletico's partnership with Doyen Sports is key to the club's transfer market operations, and is part of the reason the club has been able to afford to bring in players like Radamel Falcao from Porto in the first place. This partnership in combination with Diego Simeone's leadership should enable Atletico to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona's vast resources over the coming seasons

La Liga Player Market Value Table (tranfermarkt.com data as of 6/4/2014

Will Kurt Zuma and Juan Jesus make the grade as world class central defenders?

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Given the recent scarcity of world class central defenders throughout global soccer, top European clubs are scouring the globe in search of diamonds in the rough, which they hope to nurture into the finished article
• The end of season "top tacklers" and "best in the air" charts from BSports below highlight two player investments that'll be interesting to watch over the coming years; That of Inter Milan in Juan Jesus and that of Chelsea in Kurt Zuma
• Inter Milan recruited Juan Jesus from Internacional in the 2012 January transfer window while Chelsea reportedly splashed out about 15M Euros for Zuma's services prior to loaning him back to Saint-Etienne in January 2014
• After a difficult start at Inter, Juan Jesus has seemingly started to settle down and looks set to fulfill the potential his club saw in him. With John Terry close to the end of his career, and the recent sale of David Luiz to PSG, Chelsea is looking to Zuma to be a key figure at the back for years to come
• Both players will be disappointed not to be at the 2014 World Cup, but they have every chance of representing their respective national teams at major tournaments in the future
• Juan Jesus finished the season 3rd in the "top tacklers" category with 4.32 tackles per game and a tackle win percentage of 83.2%, while Kurt Zuma finished the season 3rd in the "best in the air" category with 2.76 aerial duels won per game and an aerial dual win percentage of 77.6% (See BSports charts below)
• Juan Jesus (22 year old Brazil International) is currently valued at 12M Euros by transfermarkt.com, while Kurt Zuma (20 year old French Youth International) is currently valued at 10M Euros by the same website

Prolific Defender Leaderboards from BSports (Updated through end of 2013/2014 season)

Carlo Ancelotti does it again: Angel Di Maria excels in new central midfield role

Key Soccerlytics Insights:

• Not for the first time in his career, Carlo Ancelotti appears to have transformed a very good player into a potential world-class player by converting Angel Di Maria from a traditional winger into all round central midfielder
• Ancelotti is arguably responsible for turning Andrea Pirlo into the word-class deep-lying playmaker he is. Prior to featuring for AC Milan under Ancelotti, Pirlo was a traditional "trequartista" and never quite convinced in that role. It wasn't until Ancelotti decided to move Pirlo into a "regista" role sitting in front of the defense and dictating the tempo of the game, that he developed into the star we know today
• While Di Maria was (and still is) a wonderful winger, he certainly isn't in the same class as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Many eyebrows were raised when Ancelotti/Real Madrid decided to sell Mesut Ozil to Arsenal last summer, but few were aware of Ancelotti's plan to deploy Di Maria in central midfield where his dynamism and athleticism would serve Los Blancos so well
• To cap off a terrific season in his new role, Di Maria was named man of the match in the recently played champions league final. In addition to his remarkable run that led up to Bale's eventual winner, Di Maria led Europe's top 5 leagues this year with 17 assists (72.2% final third passing accuracy), ahead of traditional playmakers such as Cesc Fabregas. Di Maria also finished the season second in the category of "best chance creator" with an average of 0.83 big chances created per game (See BSports Top Assist Men charts below)
• Despite not playing out on the wing, Di Maria still also managed to finish the season as the second best crosser in Europe's top 5 leagues with 1.82 accurate crosses per game and a crossing accuracy of 26.4% (See BSports Top crossers charts below)
• With Di Maria set to also star in his new role this summer for Argentina, it'll be interesting to see if he will decide to continue at Real Madrid, with reported interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus, PSG and Monaco. He is currently valued at 30M Euros by transfermarkt.com

Creative Player Charts from BSports (Updated through the end of 2013/2014 Season)