Andrey Santos proud to follow 'legend' Casemiro at Manchester United

Manchester United's acquisition of Andrey Santos, the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder, has taken many by surprise. The Brazilian, who has already made his mark at Chelsea, joined for £48 million plus an additional £2 million in add-ons. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Santos began his career at Vasco da Gama before moving to Chelsea in 2021.

Santos underwent a loan spell with Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg to acclimate himself to the Premier League and European football. After returning to Chelsea last season, he started playing more frequently in the first team. Manchester United appreciates his "amazing" football brain and believe he has a promising future, likely as the number six for the Brazil national team. Santos was also not included in the recent World Cup squad, likely because of Casemiro, a player he could potentially replace at United.

Santos has found it easy to settle into Manchester United and has been one of the standout performers during pre-season matches against various teams, including Wrexham, Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid, and PSG in Gothenburg, Sweden. Coaches have praised his ability to read the game, break up plays, and his work off the ball. However, he needs to get up to full fitness as he adjusts to pre-season.

United's recent transfers, including the signing of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans, aim to strengthen their midfield department. Tielemans, a two-time Chelsea player of the year, has been instrumental in United’s pre-season matches, often taking the ball forward. Upon joining, Santos expressed his happiness at being part of the team and his ambition to win every game and trophy possible. He sees himself as a player who thrives in a deep midfield role, contributing both with and without the ball.