Manchester United midfielder Andrey Santos has received some encouraging words from former full-backs Rafael and Fabio, the Da Silva twins. The 22 year old arrived at Old Trafford this summer from Chelsea.
Santos became the Red Devils’ first signing of the transfer window, with INEOS prioritising the midfield this year. The Brazilian was heavily involved with Chelsea last season, registering three goals and four assists in 43 appearances in all competitions.
Andrey Santos Stats: 2025/26
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 27 | 13 | 1 | - | 4 | - | 1,255' |
| UEFA Champions League | 6 | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | - | 306' |
| EFL Cup | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 435' |
| FA Cup | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 414' |
| Total | 43 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 8 | - | 2,410' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
United are working to address the gap left in the middle of the park following Casemiro’s departure at the end of last season. The veteran midfielder played a key role in the Red Devils’ resurgent run under Michael Carrick last season, which secured a third-place finish.
The Premier League giants, however, opted against handing the 34 year old a new deal, preferring instead to plan for the future. After the Ederson transfer broke down in the eleventh hour, United moved quickly to secure the services of Santos. The Da Silva twins have now welcomed him to Old Trafford with a special message.
The Da Silva Twins welcome Santos to United
Sending a video message via United’s Instagram handle, Rafael and Fabio pointed out that Santos had made a great decision. Rafael said: “I have to say to you my friend, you choose well. You are in the best club in the world, for sure. Lovely people, amazing culture.”
“You’re going to love the city as well. The only thing is it’s raining [often], but in Rio de Janeiro it’s raining [now] as well! I saw you here, so Rio is raining as well.”
Fabio added: “About the club, Andrey, you’re going to have a great time. The fans, our support is incredible, you’re going to see, it’s amazing. It doesn’t matter what, they are always behind you, supporting you. So, my friend, just give your all on the pitch. They’re going to be so happy.”
The Da Silva twins are fondly remembered at Old Trafford for their performances, tenacity and love of the badge. The duo made a combined 226 appearances for the Red Devils after arriving in 2008, and also watched from the stands in May as United secured a 3-2 win over Liverpool.
Reflecting on his time at the Theatre of Dreams, Rafael concluded: “I gave my all for this club and they still have a lot of love for me and my brother, so work hard my friend and I wish you a great, great time and a lot of wins and a lot of trophies as well. Enjoy my friend, red devil forever!”
Santos could feature against Wrexham
United have already announced that Santos is part of the travelling squad for the pre-season friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday, 18 July. Red Devils fans will be eager to catch a glimpse of their new signing this weekend against the Championship side.
Meanwhile, the Premier League giants have also added Karl Darlow to their squad, with the Welsh goalkeeper arriving as a free agent. United have secured the services of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa as well, in a bid to upgrade the midfield before the start of the new campaign.
However, neither player will take part in the weekend’s pre-season tie, as Darlow is nursing an injury, while Tielemans is taking a break after his involvement in the World Cup.
Final Thoughts
United have had some amazing Brazilians in their ranks, including Matheus Cunha, who was outstanding last season after arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and a remains a key figure at Old Trafford. Fans will hope that Santos can uphold the legacy and become indispensable for the Red Devils next season.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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