He's the kind of midfielder who does what's expected, but also know how to score goals. I would argue he's one of those who really thrives in a 352 due to the freedom of going forward. He's a smart player; a classic midfielder who knows where to position himself and get the most of his abilities. The true strength is his deep runs into the box and heading on goal. Good passing skills but great in the air. Again, he's a smart player so he knows how to adapt and read the game. That makes him a good defender as well.
Don't remeber if it was Gigi or Pirlo who said: the mind is faster than the ball.