Andrey Santos’ arrival at Old Trafford could not have come at a better opportunity after the former Chelsea star will play under Manchester United manager Michael Carrick.
The 22-year-old talented Brazilian midfielder has become the first major signing of the ‘Michael Carrick era’ at the Premier League club after his initial £48m move.
It had emerged last week that Manchester United had agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Andrey Santos, with the transfer rising to £50m due to a £2m add-on clause.
United confirmed the signing of Santos on Monday and Chelsea would pocket an additional 10 per cent fee if the Red Devils sold the former Blues ace in the future.
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Andrey Santos’ profile ahead of his Chelsea arrival reveals a ‘strong’ ability as a Man Utd midfielder for Michael Carrick
Andrey Santos’ career did not lift off in the way that many Chelsea fans would have hoped after the Blues signed him from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama in 2023.
The Brazil international was only 18 years old at the time that Chelsea brought him to England, with Santos subsequently loaned out multiple times during his career.
Santos played for the likes of Vasco da Gama (for a second time on loan), Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg (twice) during his Chelsea run.
Tim Vickery, a South American football expert, revealed that Santos’ time in his native homeland exposed his eye-catching abilities as a box-to-box midfielder.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2019, he explained that there was “certainly promise” in how Santos could show off his attacking attributes alongside his defensive output.
“He’s a strong, box-to-box midfielder – I don’t think Vasco would have been promoted without him,” Tim Vickery said at the time.
“But it’s a big step up. He’s not a player who will be ready for Premier League football yet. He’s only 18 – this is one for the future.
“Maybe a loan move is on the cards for him, but there is certainly promise as a box-to-box midfielder who has a goal in him.”
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Michael Carrick’s system thrives with the type of midfielder that Andrey Santos can become for Man Utd
Both Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro were standout performers during Michael Carrick’s Man Utd interim reign in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.
Carrick’s tactics for Man Utd are heavily reliant on box-to-box midfielders, but more so adapted to function with different attributes for the double pivot role.
Santos would not have to tap into the exact same function from his Vasco da Gama playing days, but he possesses qualities that make him flexible for Carrick’s system.
The ex-Chelsea ace would easily be able to slot alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the post-Casemiro era and have the chance to shine at United in the heart of the midfield.
United’s acquisition of Santos now paves the way for the Brazilian midfielder to come into his element under an incredibly underrated former midfielder’s tutelage.
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