3 Budget Defenders to Buy in Serie A Fantasy

Finding budget players isn’t simply about spending less. It’s about spending better.

For this article, we define budget defenders as players priced at 10 Credits or below. The objective isn’t to identify the cheapest options available, but those capable of returning more Fantasy Points (FPT) than their price suggests while allowing you to invest more heavily elsewhere in your squad.

When evaluating defenders on Kickest, clean sheets are only part of the equation. Playing time, tactical role, involvement in possession, duels, aerial ability and attacking contribution can all provide valuable and consistent sources of points.

Each selection is therefore based on expected minutes, statistical profile, importance within the team’s system and long-term upside, including the potential to increase in Credit value over the course of the season.

If you’re new to Kickest, start with our Complete Guide to Serie A Fantasy, learn how the Scoring System works and explore our latest player analysis before building your first squad.

Mërgim Vojvoda

Price: 9.5 Credits

We first became familiar with Mërgim Vojvoda during Ivan Jurić’s time at Torino, where he formed a well-balanced wing-back partnership with Wilfried Singo. While Singo provided power and direct running on one side, Vojvoda offered greater technical security and control on the other. At Como, he was often deployed in a more advanced position, although his primary responsibility was still to provide balance rather than operate as a purely attacking player.

A natural full-back, Vojvoda is capable of covering several roles across both flanks. He is technically reliable, composed in possession and comfortable receiving the ball under pressure. Although his exact position at Udinese is not yet entirely clear, he is expected to play an important role in their build-up and should therefore be heavily involved on the ball.

A few goals or assists would not come as a surprise, but Vojvoda’s real Fantasy value lies elsewhere. His involvement in possession, tactical intelligence and ability to contribute consistently across different statistical categories should give him a reliable scoring floor, even when he does not produce a decisive attacking return.

Mariano Troilo

Price: 9 Credits

Mariano Troilo established himself as one of Parma’s most important defenders during the second half of last season. The commanding Argentinian centre-back missed only two matches through absence and made 17 starts, while also scoring a crucial goal at San Siro.

Parma are unlikely to spend as much time protecting their own penalty area—or settling for a goalless draw—as they did last season. The club has provided Carlos Cuesta with more attacking options, suggesting that the team could adopt a more ambitious approach. Even so, the defensive foundations remain strong, with Troilo and Alessandro Circati forming a promising and physically imposing partnership at the heart of the back line.

Troilo’s profile is particularly interesting on Kickest because of his strength in individual contests. Last season, he recorded 89 duels won compared with 65 lost, numbers that underline both his physical presence and his potential to generate Fantasy Points without relying exclusively on clean sheets. The main concern is his disciplinary record: two red cards last season mean there is some risk attached, but at 9 Credits his combination of expected minutes, defensive output and aerial threat makes him an appealing option.

Matías Moreno

Price: 7.5 Credits

Another Argentinian centre-back with considerable upside, Matías Moreno joins Venezia on loan from Fiorentina after an encouraging season in La Liga with Levante. He is expected to feature on the right side of Giovanni Stroppa’s three-man defence, most likely alongside Armel Bella-Kotchap.

Stroppa’s system is already well established after last season in Serie B, which should make Moreno’s adaptation considerably easier. Standing 193 centimetres tall, he provides a strong physical and aerial presence, but he is far from being a limited, traditional centre-back. Moreno is comfortable in possession, quick across the ground and capable of carrying the ball out of defence, qualities that should suit Venezia’s approach.

At just 7.5 Credits, he offers an intriguing combination of affordability, likely playing time and room for growth. Venezia themselves could prove to be one of the season’s surprise packages, and Moreno has the tools to follow the same path. If he establishes himself immediately in Stroppa’s back three, he could quickly become one of the best low-cost defensive options available on Kickest.

Final Thoughts

Budget defenders are not simply placeholders used to save Credits. In the right tactical role, they can provide a steady stream of Fantasy Points (FPT) through minutes played, involvement in possession, duels won and occasional attacking returns.

The best low-cost options combine affordability with a reliable scoring floor, tactical importance and room for growth. Clean sheets will always matter, but identifying defenders capable of producing points across several statistical categories can give you an advantage even when their team concedes.

Vojvoda, Troilo and Moreno offer three different routes to value: technical involvement, defensive dominance and untapped potential. Investing in the right profiles before their performances are reflected in their Credit value could make a significant difference over the course of the season.

Continue building your squad with our guides to the best budget midfielders, budget forwards and the complete Kickest Scoring System.

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