Manchester United fans will get their first look at new signing Andrey Santos this weekend. The club confirmed Friday that the Brazilian midfielder is part of the traveling squad for Saturday’s preseason friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki.
Santos arrived from Chelsea earlier this summer as INEOS continued its strategy of buying Premier League-ready talent. He’s been training with his new teammates this week and could see minutes against the Championship side. That’s the good news for United supporters who’ve been waiting to see what the 22-year-old can do in red.
The less exciting news: Youri Tielemans is not making the trip. He’s getting a well-deserved rest after playing at the 2026 World Cup. Same story for other United players who went deep in that tournament. Karl Darlow, the free-agent goalkeeper signed after Andre Onana’s loan move to Trabzonspor, is also staying back in Manchester while he recovers from a minor fitness issue.
United’s quiet summer finally showed some life
The club’s transfer window started slow. They were linked with Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes but missed on both. They got close to signing Atalanta’s Ederson before abruptly pulling out. Fans were frustrated. But the front office has made three additions now: Santos, Darlow, and Tielemans from Aston Villa. That’s three bodies in the door, though only one will be on display in Finland.
United finished third last season under Michael Carrick, who took over in January and went 12-2-3 in his 17 matches. The run was impressive enough that the Casemiro departure as a free agent didn’t feel like a catastrophe. But everyone at Old Trafford knows the Brazilian’s leadership in midfield needs replacing. Santos is part of that answer. Tielemans is the other part.
Youngsters get a chance to impress
The absence of Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui opens the door for Jaydan Kamason at fullback. Harry Amass and Shea Lacey are also in the squad and hoping to catch Carrick’s eye. Benjamin Sesko is still recovering from a knock he picked up late last season, so he’s out. The Slovenian is expected to be fit for the start of the campaign. JJ Gabriel is also not traveling.
Wrexham won’t be a pushover. They’re a solid Championship side now, and this is United’s first real test of the preseason. Carrick will use the game to evaluate his squad ahead of a season that includes Champions League football for the first time under the new format.
But let’s be real. Most eyes will be on Santos. The kid from Chelsea, now wearing United colors, stepping onto a pitch in Helsinki with something to prove.
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