Shapesifters Icon Zambrotta - Spend or Swerve

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POSITIVES & NEGATIVES

Positives

• Zambrotta really is the perfect box to box centre midfielder, he has such a well-rounded card and is strong in pretty much all areas

• His defending ability is exceptional, I found him to always be in the right place at the right time and he continuously intercepted the opponents passes, he was also superb in the tackle

• His passing skills are top-notch, as he displays great technique and the ability to distribute the ball with precision

• He has High/High work rates which are perfect for a box to box midfielder

• He has a 5* weak foot which is again perfect for a centre midfielder, it allows you to play him on either side of the pitch and adds the ability for him to either pass or shoot with either foot with the same level of consistency

• As he is an Icon, he get Icons links meaning he is always on full chemistry if he is stated in his correct position and he also provide 2 notches to the nation chemistry

Negatives

• Zambrotta does not have any shooting traits, these are desirable for a box to box midfielder

• He is not the strongest aerially, this is due to him being 5’11” and only having 87 Jumping

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TEAM AND IN GAME POSITION

Team Used

In Game Formation – 4-2-2-2 & 3-4-2-1

Position Played: CDM (4-2-2-2) & CM (3-4-2-1)

Chemistry Style Used: Shadow

Recommended Position: CM/CDM

Recommended Chemistry Style: Shadow

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PLAYER COMPARISIONS – High/High Workrate CM/CDMs Under 500k

TOTS De Bruyne – 493K

TOTS Kimmich – 229K

TOTS Barella – 396K

Moments Goretzka – 479K

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RATINGS

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VERDICT

I am going to start by saying I had no intention of reviewing Zambrotta, I was going to choose a different player but after using him for 20 or so games I just had to review him as I was so impressed I needed to share my thoughts.

Zambrotta really is the perfect box to box midfielder, he is incredibly solid defensively and offers pretty much everything you need offensively.

I have been lucky enough to use most of the box to box midfielders in the game and I can safely say of all the ones I have used he is right up there with my favourites, he just seemed to always be in the right place at the right time and never let me down.

For 500k’s worth of fodder he is such a good price, he definitely can’t be considered cheap but by no means would I say he is expensive and he certainly isn’t overpriced, you are without a doubt getting a card worth every coin.

As you can tell this is going to be a Spend, and it really isn’t even close. I would highly recommend anyone trying him (get his loan for 5 games) and I am sure you will be impressed with him.

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SPEND OR SWERVE

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FUNNY AND INTERESTING FACTS

A little bit of bonus content for you all here are some funny and interesting facts about Gianluca Zumbrota…

• Zambrotta was born on February 19, 1977, in Como, Italy. His last name, Zambrotta, translates to “little hunchback” in Italian, which is ironic considering he had a successful career as a professional athlete.

• Despite his defensive position, Zambrotta was known for his attacking prowess and excellent crossing ability. He often contributed to goals and assists, even though his primary role was in defence.

• Zambrotta played for several top clubs during his career, including Juventus, Barcelona, and AC Milan. He won numerous domestic and international titles with these clubs, cementing his status as one of Italy’s most successful footballers.

• In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Zambrotta played a crucial role in Italy’s triumph. One amusing fact is that he accidentally scored an own goal in the group stage match against the United States. Fortunately, Italy still won the game.

• Zambrotta has a great sense of humour and is known for his light-hearted personality. He has been involved in various charity events and football-related comedic sketches, showcasing his fun-loving nature off the pitch.

• Zambrotta has a unique fashion sense and has been known to experiment with different hairstyles throughout his career. From short and spiky to long and flowing, his hairstyles often sparked discussions and became trends among fans.

• Zambrotta has transitioned to coaching after retiring as a player. In a funny twist, one of his coaching stints was with Delhi Dynamos FC in the Indian Super League, where he experienced the challenges of coaching in a different footballing culture.