Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · FC Zurich.
Also this season
On loan at Real Salt Lake — Major League Soccer: 10 apps, 0g 0a, 596 min
Earlier this season at Real Monarchs — MLS Next Pro: 2 apps, 0g 0a, 145 min
The headline Season rating covers his time at FC Zurich; availability counts only fixtures while in this squad.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Super League | 32 | 0 | 1 | 2614 | 6.95 |
 Major League Soccerat Real Salt Lake | 10 | 0 | 0 | 596 | 6.65 |
 MLS Next Proat Real Monarchs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 145 | — |
 CONCACAF Champions Leagueat Real Salt Lake | 2 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 7.2 |
Scout report
N. Palacio is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder at FC Zurich, rated 40.6 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 90th of 233 on scout potential in the Super League. In his prime years, he has been a regular starter this season (76.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.44 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Palacio.
Judged on this season alone, Palacio graded 24 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 22nd of 36 of the 36 defensive midfielders in the Super League, on 0 goals, 1 assist and 3.443 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 12 → 24). Across the 3 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 41, top 39% of the 36 defensive midfielders in the Super League. At 25 Palacio is in his prime years, and a market index of 7.9 reflects that trajectory.
A career still climbing — Palacio is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.
Output in context · FC Zurich finished 10th of 12 · a relegation-threatened side
3.44 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 32 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (10th of 12) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 0 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Availability. On the pitch for 76.4% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
Watch points
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 40.6, Palacio carries the 14th-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Super League (top 39%), and he is posting that for a relegation-threatened side (FC Zurich finished 10th of 12) — individual numbers are harder to earn on a struggling team, so his underlying level likely sits a touch above the ranking. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.44 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
