⬡ AI DNA · Live season

Udinese· 2025/2026 · Serie A · FULL

Best Alternatives to Nicolò Zaniolo

Secondary StrikerItaly26y€13.0MFull profile →

CreatorCreative

2.10KP/90

0.20G/90

0.24A/90

Based on 2,272 min · 2025/2026 · Serie A · FULL

Ranked by AI DNA similarity — playing style, pressing, and tactical fit. Below: the closest replacements with per-90 stats and form.

DNA matchPrioritizes Serie A & top-tier peers

Top 3 alternatives to Nicolò Zaniolo

Giacomo Raspadori80% match
Atalanta · Serie A · €22.0M
Albert Gudmundsson80% match
Fiorentina · Serie A · €13.0M
Sebastiano Esposito78% match
Cagliari · Serie A · €9.0M

Ranked by RT Player DNA + league/value credibility. Scroll for full list, per-90 stats, and share cards.

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Intelligence Verdict

ShotsTop 4%

???Bottom 19%

“A Creator....”

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Playing Style Analysis

CreatorCreative

A Creator. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (2.1 key passes/90), a constant goal threat (2.9 shots/90), a regular goalscorer (0.20 goals/90), a reliable supplier (0.24 assists/90), draws fouls effectively (2.4/90) and top 10% creator in the league. However, he loses possession under pressure (2.5 dispossessed/90). The three closest DNA matches to Nicolò Zaniolo:

Giacomo Raspadori(80% match) — A Complete Forward. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (1.9 key passes/90), a constant goal threat (3.2 shots/90) and a regular goalscorer (0.34 goals/90).
Albert Gudmundsson(80% match) — A Complete Forward. Statistically, he stands out as a capable chance creator (1.2 key passes/90), a regular goalscorer (0.25 goals/90), a reliable supplier (0.20 assists/90) and meticulous in distribution (87% pass accuracy).
Sebastiano Esposito(78% match) — A Forward. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (2.4 key passes/90), a regular goalscorer (0.23 goals/90) and a reliable supplier (0.17 assists/90).

Similarity uses per-90 performance across playing-style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →

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Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity

Giacomo Raspadori

Atalanta · Serie A

Italy26yContract 2030

G/900.34

A/900.11

Complete ForwardSmall SampleSteady form

vs Zaniolo: €9M more expensive

80% match

€22.0M

Ask about replacements for Zaniolo

Same DNA shortlist as above — budget fit, who to avoid, or why the top match works.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best alternatives to Nicolò Zaniolo?▼

The top alternatives to Nicolò Zaniolo based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Giacomo Raspadori, Albert Gudmundsson, Sebastiano Esposito, Paulo Dybala, Nicola Zalewski. 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 Nicolò Zaniolo in 2026?▼

Players with a similar profile to Nicolò Zaniolo in 2026 include Giacomo Raspadori (€22.0M), Albert Gudmundsson (€13.0M), Sebastiano Esposito (€9.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.

What position does Nicolò Zaniolo play and who plays similarly?▼

Nicolò Zaniolo plays as a Midfielder. Players with a comparable positional profile include Giacomo Raspadori (Italy, €22.0M); Albert Gudmundsson (Iceland, €13.0M); Sebastiano Esposito (Italy, €9.0M); Paulo Dybala (Argentina, €5.0M).

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.

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