Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta Scout Report
Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, veteran defensive midfielder for Athletic Club, has showcased exemplary form this La Liga season. Notably, his impressive defensive skills have been instrumental for the team's stability, with his ball recoveries featuring among the top tier. Nonetheless, his greatest asset lies in his astoundingly progressive passing ability, which not only facilitates fluid transitions from defence to offence but also dwarfs the average ability among his contemporaries.
Despite not being the most pose-dominant player, his successful ball retention highlights him as an exceptionally reliable player, keeping control under pressure. However, things seem to change when the ball crosses over to the offensive half, as reflected in his less aggressive goal threat, slightly lagging chance creation, and even his progressive carrying rate. His contributions to the opponent's goal post are primarily marked by his uncanny goal efficiency, which once again underscores his dependable nature.
Impressively, his ability to navigate his way past opponents using his dribbling skills is significantly ahead of the curve. Conversely, while not the worst, his duelling prowess, both on land and air leaves some room for improvement, something he could potentially be doing more of, especially in his common position in the midfield third.
One particularly notable facet of Iñigo's gameplay that raises eyebrows is his tendency to commit fouls at a notably high rate - a trait that sees him frequently booked. While his defensive efforts and ball recovery rate are commendable, it suggests he could benefit from a tad more control and discipline in his gameplay. To round out the analysis, despite a lack of significant engagement in the extreme thirds of the field, Iñigo has a homely presence in the midfield third – a testament to his versatile and adaptive nature. All in all, a seasoned campaigner in the ranks with a few aspects to polish, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta continues to remain a strong pillar for Athletic Club.
