AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Zaidu Sanusi
Players most similar to Zaidu Sanusi (Defender, €3.0M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Zaidu Sanusi
- 1.Nuno Santos86% DNA match·Sporting CP€5.0M
- 2.Adrian Leon Barisic85% DNA match·Sporting Braga€4.0M
- 3.Alexander Bah84% DNA match·Benfica€9.0M
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
RT
Intelligence Verdict
Key PassesTop 3%
???Bottom 11%
“A Active Full-Back....”
See Full Verdict + Share Card →Playing Style Analysis
Active Full-Back
A Active Full-Back. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, an elite creator (1.6 key passes/90), meticulous in distribution (86% pass accuracy), wins the physical battle (59% duel success) and active off the ball (2.5 press score/90), contributing to defensive transitions. The three most similar players to Zaidu Sanusi by playing style are:
- Nuno Santos(86% match) — Santos is the rare defender who creates more danger than most attackers in Liga Portugal—his 3.07 key passes per 90 and 2.05 shots per 90 both land in the top 5% of all defenders in the division, numbers that belong on a winger's profile, not a backline one. His 100% duel win rate sounds like a small-sample anomaly—and with only 352 minutes, it partly is—but his 90.9% pass accuracy suggests genuine technical quality rather than a player simply avoiding contact. Here's the counterintuitive read: his low press intensity isn't laziness, it's positioning intelligence; he intercepts above average precisely because he reads the game rather than chasing it.
- Adrian Leon Barisic(85% match) — A Ball-Playing CB. Statistically, he stands out as meticulous in distribution (88% pass accuracy) and wins the physical battle (67% duel success). Note: this profile is based on 453 minutes of playing time this season.
- Alexander Bah(84% match) — A Active Full-Back. Statistically, he stands out as an aggressive ball-winner (3.2 tackles/90), wins the physical battle (57% duel success), central to possession (79 touches/90) and top 10% tackler in the league.
Transfer Intelligence
Nuno Santos delivers 86% of the same playing style, at a 67% premium over Zaidu Sanusi, with 1.02 tackles won per 90 at age 31.
Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →
Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity
#1
N
Nuno Santos
Sporting CP · Liga Portugal
Portugal31yContract 2027
Tkl/901.02
KP/903.07
Active Full-BackSmall Sample
Last 5: ↑ Hotvs Sanusi: 3y older
86% match
€5.0M
#2
A
Adrian Leon Barisic
Sporting Braga · Liga Portugal
Bosnia and Herzegovina24yContract 2027
Tkl/901.86
KP/900.34
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: ↓ Dipvs Sanusi: 4y younger
85% match
€4.0M
#3
A
Alexander Bah
Benfica · Liga Portugal
Denmark28yContract 2029
Tkl/902.88
KP/901.77
Active Full-Back
Last 5: → Stablevs Sanusi: €6M more expensive
84% match
€9.0M
#4
A
Aderllan Leandro de Jesus Santos
AVS · Liga Portugal
Brazil37yContract 2026
Tkl/902.10
KP/900.09
Aerial DefenderAerial Threat
Last 5: → Stable85% match
€5.0M
#5
G
Gonçalo Inácio
Sporting CP · Liga Portugal
Portugal24yContract 2030
Tkl/901.71
KP/900.71
Ball-Playing CBBall-Playing
Last 5: ↓ Dip84% match
€45.0M
#6
S
Samuel Dahl
Benfica · Liga Portugal
Sweden23yContract 2029
Tkl/902.73
KP/901.14
Active Full-Back
Last 5: → Stable84% match
€9.0M
#7
I
Iván Fresneda
Sporting CP · Liga Portugal
Spain21yContract 2028
Tkl/901.78
KP/900.72
Active Full-Back
Last 5: → Stable84% match
€12.0M
#8
D
David Carmo
Real Oviedo · La Liga
Portugal26y
Tkl/901.70
KP/900.31
Ball-Playing CBAerial
Last 5: ↑ Hot84% match
€11.0M
#9
J
Jordan Zemura
Udinese · Serie A
Zimbabwe26yContract 2027
Tkl/902.66
KP/900.95
Active Full-BackSmall Sample
83% match
€4.0M
#10
S
Sikou Niakaté
Sporting Braga · Liga Portugal
Mali26yContract 2028
Tkl/900.96
KP/900.48
Aerial DefenderBall-Playing Defender
Last 5: ↑ Hot84% match
€8.0M
#11
M
Martim Fernandes
Porto · Liga Portugal
Portugal20yContract 2028
Tkl/903.30
KP/900.72
84% match
€12.0M
#12
A
Alberto Costa
Porto · Liga Portugal
Portugal22yContract 2030
Tkl/902.44
KP/901.18
Active Full-Back
Last 5: → Stable84% match
€15.0M
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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 Zaidu Sanusi.
Ask AI about Zaidu Sanusi →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Zaidu Sanusi?▼
The top alternatives to Zaidu Sanusi based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Nuno Santos, Adrian Leon Barisic, Alexander Bah, Aderllan Leandro de Jesus Santos, Gonçalo Inácio. 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 Zaidu Sanusi in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Zaidu Sanusi in 2026 include Nuno Santos (€5.0M), Adrian Leon Barisic (€4.0M), Alexander Bah (€9.0M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Zaidu Sanusi play and who plays similarly?▼
Zaidu Sanusi plays as a Defender. Players with a comparable positional profile include Nuno Santos (Portugal, €5.0M); Adrian Leon Barisic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, €4.0M); Alexander Bah (Denmark, €9.0M); Aderllan Leandro de Jesus Santos (Brazil, €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.