There’s an awful lot to be said about patience and understanding in the world of football.
Whether you invest your time on the ground or spend hours conversing across social media, modern interpretations of players are regularly skewed.
Although nobody at the Theatre of Red will be taking the results of pre-season runouts to heart, certain individual performances are beginning to silence some of the daily noise.
Manchester United have looked sharp against Rosenborg and Atleti, and Andrey Santos has played a notable role at the heart of both.
But this will come as no surprise to Michael Carrick and his backroom team, given the trust and unified vision across the entire sporting department.
Acquired following months of detailed scouting and data-led analysis, Michael Sansoni’s team compiled an abundance of compelling dossiers which ultimately led to the Brazilians arrival.
And even though several players-turned-pundits have offered their two cents on the underwhelming nature of his recruitment, Santos has unsurprisingly taken to the task like a duck to water.
Without question, the era of armchair experts has evolved into something far more onerous, with well-known video games providing bachelor’s degrees in football intellect.
Nonetheless, those employed to generate market-leading data on potential recruits continue to do so behind the scenes at Carrington.
As previously revealed, United officials identified Santos many months ago, engaging with Bertolucci Sports (Santos’ agency) and even attempting to steal a march on Chelsea during Alejandro Garnacho’s departure.
The former Vasco star earned continental plaudits during his time in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, generating elite metrics in defence and transition, while chipping in with double-digit goals in attack.
Despite competing with Moises Caidedo and Enzo Fernandez at Stamford Bridge, Santos ranked in the 88th percentile for progressive passes and the 78th percentile for possessions won throughout the previous Premier League campaign.
All things considered, it’s hardly surprising that the player touted as Brazil’s next number six would look at home in a United midfield.
It has been a long time since the Stretford End possessed a defensive midfielder of this ilk within their ranks.
Whether thriving in defensive duels or orchestrating swift transitions with line-breaking passes, Santos embodies the modern expectations of a player charged with sitting ahead of the backline.
Take his French exploits as a promising 21-year-old during the 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign for starters. On the surface level, Andrey thrived with 10 goals and four assists from 32 appearances.
From a deep-rooted data perspective, he finished in the 98th percentile for duels won and above the 80th percentile in forward passes and successful possessions achieved.
And while some will scoff at the level of competition in France, he added a point to his duels with Chelsea (99th) the following season, while excelling with forward passes (88th) and the percentage of individual forward distribution (99th).
Speaking with the Manchester United Supporters’ Club Scandinavia following Saturday’s 2-1 win against Atleti, Carrick was quick to acknowledge his new arrival’s ease of transition into the side.
“The way he approaches games, the way he plays for his teammates, he doesn’t play for himself,” the United chief stated.
“He reads the game very well, is very intelligent and has settled in well here.
“It seems like he has been playing here for a long time. He is still young and has a lot more to contribute, which is very exciting for us.”
Understandably, supporters crave a squad that is fit for purpose across the rigorous demands of a continental-infused campaign, particularly when Casemiro is no longer an option.
Still, while we’re told that work continues behind the scenes to build upon the signings of Santos and Youri Tielemans, we’re reminded of internal confidence in this new Mancunian duo.
Much of this thought process is fortified by a long-standing belief in Mason Mount’s capabilities to flourish across the midfield, and his early pre-season performances have enhanced this understanding.
Expectedly, many of those who were quick to lament a summer move for Santos have now changed their tune, acknowledging that Sansoni and co appear to be armed with the necessary traits to succeed.
And with upcoming fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain, Leeds and Milan offering further opportunities to develop squad continuity, Santos has every chance to become a household name at Old Trafford.
Long may he continue to impress!
Let us know your thoughts about our latest Brazilian talent in the comments or across our social channels.
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