Best Alternatives to Matteo Gabbia

Top 3 Alternatives to Matteo Gabbia

1. 1.Tiago Gabriel86% DNA match·Lecce€15.0M
2. 2.Pierre Kalulu86% DNA match·Juventus€32.0M
3. 3.Odilon Kossounou85% DNA match·Atalanta€22.0M

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

Playing Style Analysis

A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (5.2 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (92% pass accuracy) and wins the physical battle (55% duel success). Note: this profile is based on 780 minutes of playing time this season. The three most similar players to Matteo Gabbia by playing style are:

• Tiago Gabriel(86% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as commanding in the air (6.7 clearances/90), meticulous in distribution (87% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (64% duel success) and dominant in the air (3.3 aerials won/90, 61%).
• Pierre Kalulu(86% match) — Kalulu has quietly become one of Serie A's most progressive defenders — a ball-carrier in disguise wearing a centre-back's number. His 60.8 passes per 90 and 6.23 passes into the final third both land in the top 20-30% of defenders in the league, figures that reveal a player comfortable initiating attacks rather than simply recycling possession. His key passes per 90 (top 20%) are genuinely remarkable for a defender — higher than many midfielders — suggesting his influence on the final third is being systematically undervalued by clubs still scanning only defensive metrics.
• Odilon Kossounou(85% match) — Kossounou has carved out a rare niche in Serie A's defensive landscape: a centre-back who builds play with the precision of a deep-lying midfielder while quietly contributing to the scoresheet. His 92.7% pass accuracy places him in the top 5% of defenders in the division—not just neat sideways passes, but 5.27 progressive balls into the final third per 90, suggesting genuine intent to break lines. His goal contribution rate sits in the top 20%, a counterintuitive figure that reveals an underrated offensive threat from set-pieces that opponents routinely underestimate.

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