Ramires pace attribute is good as a defensive midfielder. He can close down attackers quickly, cover wide ground when the team is exposed.

He reads the game well and reacts fast to loose balls, deflections and sudden changes in play.

Strong fundamentals: solid tackling, good positioning for basic shielding of the defence, and the ability to engage attackers before they become dangerous.

4 star skill moves, unusual and useful: gives him more options in tight spaces. That extra technical ability increases his usefulness on the ball compared with typical CDMs.

He can maintain intensity over the full 90 minutes, which pairs perfectly with his high work rates and makes him reliable for pressing systems or for covering box-to-box responsibilities.

Dives into tackles, Aggressive tackling trait means he’ll actively go for challenges and often win the ball back.