Manchester United's new signing Andrey Santos has quickly become a subject of scrutiny after his £50 million move from Chelsea was announced on Monday. The 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder's early career, including a disappointing loan spell at Nottingham Forest, has raised doubts among fans and pundits alike. However, a closer look at the circumstances suggests these concerns may be premature.
Paul Scholes Questions the Transfer
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes expressed skepticism on his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Football. "I don't think there's going to be a lot of excitement about it, is there?" Scholes said. "Why are Chelsea selling him, a 22-year-old kid?" Others have pointed to Santos' relatively slim CV, with his most appearances for a single club being 49 for his boyhood team, Vasco da Gama.
Santos joined Chelsea in 2023 and was immediately loaned back to Vasco da Gama. Upon returning to England, he was sent to Nottingham Forest on loan, where he made just two appearances. This limited game time has set alarm bells ringing for some United fans.
Steve Cooper Defends Santos
However, Santos' disappointing spell at Forest should not be used as a reason to doubt his potential, according to then-Forest head coach Steve Cooper. In December 2023, Cooper addressed the situation, saying, "I’m not too sure about what’s been said [about Santos not playing]. Of course everyone would have liked Andrey to play more. He is a really good young player, but there isn’t a load of players his age who are playing regularly in the Premier League."
Cooper explained that the loan context made it difficult: "It is the sort of situation where if he was our player, he would be in the perfect situation of being in and around the first team... but knowing you are developing him. The context to it is he isn’t our player, he is Chelsea’s, and that probably just adds a few question marks."
At the time, Santos was 19 and Forest were fighting relegation. It was his first taste of European football, and breaking into a struggling Premier League side as a young South American loanee was incredibly challenging. The blame likely lies with Chelsea's choice of loan club rather than Santos' ability.
Success at Strasbourg
A move to Strasbourg in 2024 proved more sensible. There, Santos enjoyed regular playing time and even wore the captain's armband, demonstrating the importance of the right developmental environment. Throwing him into the deep end at Forest was unwise, as proven by his lack of opportunities.
What impact Santos will have for Manchester United next season remains to be seen, but judging him solely on his Forest loan spell would be unfair. As Cooper reiterated, "Not many players his age are playing loads of minutes in the Premier League."
