Manchester United are set to sign Andrey Santos this summer after missing out on Mateus Fernandes, but who really drew the better hand this summer?
In a surprisingly fast turn of events, Manchester United have agreed to sign Andrey Santos.
The deal will cost United £48m plus add-ons, and he is expected to sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with a medical pencilled in for this week.
Santos arrives as United’s first midfield signing of the summer, with the uncertainty around Ederson continuing. This comes after United let Mateus Fernandes join Spurs for an overpriced £85m.
It could be genius by Ineos, and comparing the pair from last season highlights why Santos might have been severely undervalued by Chelsea.
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Andrey Santos stacks up impressively against Mateus Fernandes for £37m less
Using data from Squawka to compare the two midfielders, it becomes quite apparent that despite costing £37m more, Fernandes is not a better player than Santos.
Lining up the pair side by side in almost all relevant departments for a midfielder sees Santos emerge as Fernandes’ equal – if not slightly better.
Andrey Santos vs Mateus Fernandes
| Santos | Per 90 2025/26 | Fernandes |
| 70.8 | Touches | 63.1 |
| 51.5 | Passes completed | 40.6 |
| 90.09% | Pass completion rate | 87.42% |
| 1.1 | Long passes completed | 3.4 |
| 50% | Long pass accuracy | 61.67% |
| 0.3 | Through balls | 0.5 |
| 14.5 | Forward passes | 12.6 |
| 2.7 | Tackles made | 3.1 |
| 1.1 | Aerial duels won | 0.6 |
| 45.16% | Aerial duel success rate | 48.72% |
| 5.4 | Duels won | 6 |
| 67.78% | Duel success rate | 56.25% |
| 1.3 | Clearances | 1.2 |
| 1.5 | Interceptions | 1.1 |
Obviously, we have to account for the fact that West Ham were a relegated side, which will have inflated Fernandes’ defensive numbers through having to do more, yet Santos still outperforms him in most aspects, bar the amount of tackles.
On the ball, Santos is a better passer and more progressive, but Fernandes leading in long balls is again due to where he played, as Nuno Espirito Santo plays a more long-ball brand than Enzo Maresca or Liam Rosenior
The only way that Fernandes beats Santos is that he wins a higher percentage of aerial duels, which is a concern with the Brazilian being 5ft 11in, but he is a small 5’11.
Physically, Fernandes is probably a better runner than Santos, but the physical version of Santos from Strasbourg was much better than at Chelsea, which could be due to not getting enough game time to really settle.
The two midfielders are very similar, and Santos may be the direct response to missing out on Fernandes. Santos is undoubtedly a data-driven signing, following the successes of Senne Lammens and Patrick Dorgu.
Santos’ data shows him to be a midfielder worth a lot more than £48m, and if he is a success at Old Trafford, that price tag will be viewed as an absolute bargain especially in comparison with Fernandes who will need to be world class to justify his £85m price.
Who will end up having the better season Andrey Santos or Mateus Fernandes, and why?
Have Manchester United got the better deal this summer?👀
Santos could be a masterstroke by Manchester United
What some are failing to realise is that although Fernandes cost £85m, his true value was probably at a push between £50-60m.
So United decided against paying the massively inflated £85m and instead signed a player just as good for the price he is worth, or rather slightly cheaper in this current market.
This kind of recruitment was what United fans were crying out for while Ed Woodward was paying over the odds for everyone, handing out ridiculous wages that led the club to a unsustainable financial situation.
Santos is a signing Liverpool or City would have made after United spent the silly money, with supporters commending the deal, but now the shoe is on the other foot, the shrewd deals are being slammed.
This isn’t a case of Ineos cutting corners or going cheap, its running a football club in a sustainable, long-term and intelligent way.
Santos will be looked back on as a brilliant move from United’s recruitment team and it is clear that he will look like excellent value for money when held up against Fernandes.
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