Andrey Santos has already proven to be quite a revelation at Manchester United.
This summer offered INEOS the perfect opportunity to overhaul the Red Devils’ engine room.
Keen to strengthen the centre of the park, the 20-time English champions were linked with several exciting names, including Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson.
However, none of those marquee targets arrived. Instead, it was Santos, a transfer that came out of the blue, who ended up being signed.
Surprise pick
Heading into the window, the Brazilian was nowhere near the list of dream targets. Yet he emerged as the perfect alternative, and after just a few pre-season outings, INEOS look like transfer masterminds for pivoting towards him.
In the matches he has featured in, the way he commands the midfield with authority, drives play forward with intent, and consistently threads passes that pull defences apart has been nothing short of breathtaking.
That kind of presence and quality is precisely what United have been crying out for over the years.
Rare Santos trait that has left Carrington impressed
But it is not merely his ability on the ball that has stunned those at Carrington. That was expected, given his brilliance at Strasbourg before returning to Chelsea last season.
What has truly turned heads is his personality. Despite his age, he is already behaving like a leader among players with far more experience. As the Manchester Evening News observed:
“Off it, his leadership and maturity have stood out to staff. He has impressed staff in training and with his general demeanour around the group.
“It has been noticeable in pre-season that he is a constant talker on the pitch, particularly when communicating with the centre-backs. That is an impressive and important trait for a young midfielder to have.”
Between his desire to lock down the number six role and his vocal guidance of teammates, United have surely landed themselves a Casemiro heir.
What a transfer masterstroke Santos is turning out to be for the 20-time English champions; INEOS did not just sign a brilliant midfielder, they may have just signed the next captain.
Featured image by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
