M'Bala Nzola, Fiorentina's 27-year-old striker from Angola stands out as an anomaly in the forward ranks of Serie A. His intrinsic ability lies in ball retention, as he's in the top 8% of his peers, demonstrating superior control and possession skills that set the foundation for his game. He uses his ball retention skills to lay off the ball for teammates in threatening positions, illustrated by a strong 78% percentile rank in assists per 90 minutes.
Yet, it's not all roses for Nzola. His goal efficiency and threat are alarmingly poor for a forward, ranking in the 18th and 31st percentile respectively, providing a clear explanation for his underwhelming goals per game ratio. Essentially, Nzola stands as a non-traditional striker, preferring to be more involved in the orchestration of attacks than consistently delivering the final, killer blow.
However, it is his striking deficiency that should warrant concern for the Viola camp. For a centre forward in a league as competitive as Serie A, being in the 18th percentile for goal efficiency and 31st percentile for goal threat are marked weaknesses that potentially limit his value to the team. He'll need to work hard on his finishing and ruthlessness in advanced areas if he's to make a significant impact as a striker in Italy's top tier.
That considered, Nzola's player profile presents a tantalizing bundle of opportunities and deficiencies. His unorthodox style of play may not conform to the classic outlines of a Serie A striker, but in the right system, he could flourish with his ability to manoeuvre play and aid goal creation from the frontline.
M'Bala Nzola Key stats
M'Bala Nzola Career Trend
M'Bala Nzola Shot Maps
M'Bala Nzola Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, M'Bala Nzola took 31 shots, scoring 3 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 4.45, averaging 0.14 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 1 goals from 4 shots. A 25.0% conversion rate. 0.15 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 2 goals from 17 shots. A 11.76% conversion rate. 0.18 xG per shot.
Headers: 0 goals from 9 headed attempts. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.08 xG per shot.
