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The 11 best Football Manager 2019 free agents
Sign this starting XI of top players for free in the latest edition of Football Manager.
If you're struggling to win games in Football Manager 2019, you’ll want to acquire some new talent. The biggest restriction is budget, which can prove a significant stumbling block for all but the richest of clubs. Fortunately, you can always opt for free agents, allowing you to sign any number of players without breaking the bank.
The transfer market is filled with free transfers in Football Manager 2019, and identifying the best of the bunch can prove tricky. We’ve analysed the game’s database to highlight some of the very best frees that you can sign from day one.
GK: Ionut Rus
Expect Ionut Rus to improve considerably in future seasons
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18-year-old Ionut Rus is a Romanian keeper who was last on the books at Serie A side Lazio. The youngster, who apparently had a trial at Nottingham Forest in 2015, operates at a fairly low level of ability in FM 2019, but boasts the potential to improve considerably. For now, you can take advantage of his 15 bravery and 13 reflexes stats, but train him effectively, and you’ll be left with a potential Premier League starter in years to come.
RB: Carlos Valencia
This right-back has featured for a variety of Colombian sides throughout his career, and also had spells in Argentina and France. Valencia comes highly-recommended thanks to his well-rounded attributes, with almost all of them hovering at around the 12 or 13 mark. He’s in the peak of his career at the age of 28, and while he won’t improve much further, Valencia should prove a reliable option for most mid-to-high level teams in FM 2019.
CB: Philipp Wollscheid
Wollscheid reached the 2015-16 League Cup semi-finals with Stoke City
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Ex-Bayer Leverkusen defender Wollscheid is another top signing in FM 2019. The 29-year-old most recently featured for French team Metz after leaving Stoke City in 2017, but left after making just one appearance for the Ligue 1 side. By opting to pay his relatively small wage, you’ll be able to take advantage of the multi-capped Germany international’s impressive defensive stats, including 18 jumping reach, 15 heading and 15 composure.
CB: Papy Djilobodji
Like Wollscheid, expect 30-year-old Djilobodji to be in high demand in FM 2019. The Senegal international is perhaps best known for his five-year spell at Ligue 1 side Nantes, as well as joining Chelsea on a four-year deal in 2015. His best attributes are related to bravery and strength, while he also benefits from 15 pace and tackling. Djilobodi was most recently contracted to League One side Sunderland, but he’ll suit higher level teams just as well in-game.
LB: Benoît Trémoulinas
The 32-year-old has enjoyed a honour-laden career thus far
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You’ll benefit from plenty of experience in Benoît Trémoulinas – a French international and two-time Europa League winner. The left-back, who also lifted the Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux in 2009, sports a range of impressive stats in FM 2019, particularly in relation to crossing, teamwork and stamina. Expect him to perform well at Premier League level, but the 32-year-old’s advancing age will see his attributes decrease in seasons to come.
DM: Assane Gnoukouri
Young 22-year-old defensive midfielder Gnoukouri is another great fit for mid-to-high level teams in FM 2019. The Ivorian can grow into a dominant force in future seasons, but for now, you can still take advantage of his excellent stamina and passing abilities. In real life, Gnoukouri made various appearances for Inter Milan from 2014-17, and received his first senior Ivory Coast national team call-up for a friendly against Morocco in 2015.
AM R/L/C: Samir Nasri
Nasri will command a high wage due to his impressive abilities
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French star Samir Nasri is undergoing a doping ban until the end of December 2018, so you won’t be able to sign him until after that date in FM 2019. He’s worth keeping on your wishlist, though, as the ex-France international and Manchester City midfielder remains highly talented in-game, and is versatile enough to play in right, central or left-sided positions. The only downside is how high his wage demands can prove, tending to hover around the 90k per week mark.
AM L: Fidel Martínez
The 28-year-old has racked up a significant number of international caps with Ecuador throughout his career, as well as featuring for the likes of Deportivo Quito and Tijuana. Martínez, who won a gold medal with Ecuador in the 2007 Pan American Games, is equipped with superb pace and dribbling skills in-game, and also enjoys a 15 in flair and technique. Expect him to be a dominant threat on the wing in FM 2019.
M/AM: Gianluca Gaudino
The midfielder was a product of the Bayern Munich youth academy
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Ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Gaudino boasts excellent potential beyond his 17 teamwork, 16 first touch and 15 composure stats. Son of former Germany international Maurizio Gaudino, Gianluca is a versatile midfielder, adapting well to defensive, central and attacking roles. Expect the youngster to be in high demand due to his promising future, while most teams will be able to take advantage of his relatively low wage demands.
ST: Obafemi Martins,
Former Serie A winner and MLS All-Star Obafemi Martins remains a prolific talent in FM 2019 at the age of 33. The Nigerian, who most recently featured for Shanghai Shenhua, is best remembered for his clinical spells at Inter, Newcastle and Seattle, as well as his speed. The latter remains largely present in-game, and Martins also boasts excellent finishing and determination attributes. Don’t expect his wages to come cheap, though.
ST: Dimitar Berbatov
Even at the age of 37, Berbatov remains a top signing
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The most high-profile entry on this list is also the oldest, but there are still plenty of reasons to sign Bulgarian star Dimitar Berbatov. His pace is poor, but Berbatov remains as lethal as ever in front of goal, sporting attributes including 20 first touch, 18 technique and 16 finishing. You probably won’t get more than a season out of the ex-Manchester Utd and Bayer Leverkusen star, who remains in high demand in FM 2019, but he’s available for a relatively low wage.
