RisingTransfers
AI DNA Similarity

Best Alternatives to Diego Rico

Players most similar to Diego Rico (Defender, €1.2M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.

Top 3 Alternatives to Diego Rico

  1. 1.Álex Moreno86% DNA match·Girona€3.5M
  2. 2.Carlos Romero86% DNA match·Espanyol€25.0M
  3. 3.Adrià Pedrosa86% DNA match·Elche€4.0M

Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.

RT

Intelligence Verdict

Chances MissedTop 0%
???Bottom 0%

A Defender....

See Full Verdict + Share Card →

Playing Style Analysis

A Defender. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, active in the tackle (2.2 tackles/90), wins the physical battle (57% duel success), penetrates with forward passing (11.3 final-third passes/90), uses long balls frequently (5.8/90) and active off the ball (2.3 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions. The three most similar players to Diego Rico by playing style are:

  • Álex Moreno(86% match)A Active Full-Back. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed and a reliable supplier (0.16 assists/90).
  • Carlos Romero(86% match)A Defender. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, an aggressive ball-winner (3.1 tackles/90), wins the ball cleanly (1.8 successful tackles/90), active off the ball (2.8 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions and top 10% tackler in the league.
  • Adrià Pedrosa(86% match)A Active Full-Back. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, an elite creator (1.9 key passes/90), an aggressive ball-winner (2.9 tackles/90), active off the ball (2.1 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions and top 10% tackler in the league. Note: this profile is based on 874 minutes of playing time this season.

Transfer Intelligence

Álex Moreno delivers 86% of the same playing style, at a 192% premium over Diego Rico, with 1.24 tackles won per 90 at age 32.

Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →

D
Comparison Base
Diego Rico
DefenderSpain€1.2M
Full profile →

Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

#1
Á
Álex Moreno
Girona · La Liga
Spain32yContract 2027
Tkl/901.24
KP/900.65
Active Full-Back
86% match
€3.5M
#2
C
Carlos Romero
Espanyol · La Liga
Spain24yContract 2026
Tkl/903.07
KP/900.62
Last 5: → Stable
vs Rico: €24M more expensive · 9y younger
86% match
€25.0M
#3
A
Adrià Pedrosa
Elche · La Liga
Spain27yContract 2026
Tkl/902.88
KP/901.85
Active Full-BackSmall Sample
Last 5: ↓ Dip
vs Rico: 6y younger
86% match
€4.0M
#4
F
Fran García
Real Madrid · La Liga
Spain26yContract 2027
Tkl/901.83
KP/900.55
Small Sample
Last 5: → Stable
86% match
€12.0M
#5
A
Abel Bretones
Osasuna · La Liga
Spain25yContract 2029
Tkl/901.91
KP/901.36
Reading DefenderSmall Sample
Last 5: ↑ Hot
85% match
€4.5M
#6
V
Víctor García
Levante · La Liga
Spain28y
Tkl/902.25
KP/901.20
Active Full-BackSmall Sample
Last 5: → Stable
86% match
€7.0M
#7
J
Javi Galán
Osasuna · La Liga
Spain31yContract 2026
Tkl/902.37
KP/901.14
Active Full-BackSmall Sample
Last 5: ↓ Dip
86% match
€3.5M
#8
V
Valentin Rosier
Osasuna · La Liga
France29yContract 2028
Tkl/901.82
KP/900.49
Last 5: → Stable
86% match
€3.0M
#9
N
Nahuel Tenaglia
Deportivo Alavés · La Liga
Argentina30yContract 2029
Tkl/901.73
KP/900.15
Aerial
Last 5: → Stable
85% match
€3.0M
#10
P
Pablo Maffeo
Mallorca · La Liga
Argentina28yContract 2027
Tkl/902.18
KP/900.65
Last 5: → Stable
85% match
€5.0M
#11
G
Gabriel Suazo
Sevilla · La Liga
Chile28yContract 2028
Tkl/903.82
KP/901.83
Active Full-Back
Last 5: → Stable
85% match
€7.0M
#12
Y
Youssef Enríquez
Deportivo Alavés · La Liga
Spain20yContract 2029
Tkl/901.12
KP/900.94
Solid Defender
Last 5: → Stable
85% match
€5.0M

Ask AI: Why are these players similar?

Our 768-dimension Player DNA model matches playing style, physical profile, pressing intensity, and tactical fit. Ask the AI to explain exactly what makes these players statistically similar to Diego Rico.

Ask AI about Diego Rico

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Diego Rico?
The top alternatives to Diego Rico based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Álex Moreno, Carlos Romero, Adrià Pedrosa, Fran García, Abel Bretones. These players were matched using Rising Transfers' 768-dimension DNA model across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit — not just position or market value.
Which players are similar to Diego Rico in 2026?
Players with a similar profile to Diego Rico in 2026 include Álex Moreno (€3.5M), Carlos Romero (€25.0M), Adrià Pedrosa (€4.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Diego Rico play and who plays similarly?
Diego Rico plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Álex Moreno (Spain, €3.5M); Carlos Romero (Spain, €25.0M); Adrià Pedrosa (Spain, €4.0M); Fran García (Spain, €12.0M).
How does Rising Transfers find similar players?
Rising Transfers uses a proprietary 768-dimension Player DNA model trained on 3.2 million match events. Each player is represented as a vector across 35+ per-90 metrics including pressing intensity, passing footprint, dribbling profile, and defensive contribution. Similarity is measured using cosine distance — the same technique used in state-of-the-art AI systems — making it the most precise player comparison tool available publicly.