I already feel like I have seen enough from Andrey Santos during pre-season to learn he is going to become a star.
Andrey Santos has now been at Manchester United for five weeks and during that time he has totally bedded in, on and off the pitch.
Santos has been an ever-present in pre-season, starting all six games, and he has been a standout player each and every time.
It has become clear that Santos is going to become a key player in Michael Carrick’s team, and provide good value on the £48 million the club spent to land him.
Providing Manchester United do not ask too much, too soon.
Andrey Santos is ready, now
It is interesting to compare the viewpoints now, with the initial reaction when Manchester United signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea.
At the time, most Manchester United fans believed a bigger midfield name would probably be coming in.
As it stands, the £48 million spent on Santos is the biggest fee United have agreed all summer.
When the deal for Santos was struck, there was wonder whether he would just be part of the puzzle, and whether he would fit into Manchester United’s first choice XI.
Now the conversation has changed. Instead of wondering whether Andrey Santos will fit into the team, the question is over who should partner him?
Santos has demonstrated in pre-season that he can do it all. He can win the ball back and play the passes Michael Carrick wants from his midfielders.
But the conversation has also changed from the way Ineos have approached the window.
Santos has been put in position where he will start regularly. At Chelsea, he was stuck in a queue for places.
United are confident that this could be a £80-100 million level midfielder who the club has signed at a major discount.
It is now up to him to show it. There will be bumps along the way like all players experience during the season, but already, the thought of United entering this season without Santos would be unthinkable.
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Manchester United still need to be careful with Santos
The lack of spending has meant that Santos has to succeed and there is no hiding place for him.
My main concern with Santos is that United are placing too much pressure on the Brazilian to produce high-level performances every week.
Santos is only 22, and while he is relishing the chance to lead Manchester United’s midfield, I wonder if he quite knows what he is letting himself in for.
He has help from Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans, but that does not feel like enough. I can’t even count Mason Mount because he is so unreliable.
United have a gem with Santos, but they could end up hurting him if another midfielder does not arrive to provide back-up.
We have seen it before where United run players into the ground because of a lack of alternatives.
Find Santos an able deputy in midfield and we will be in a better position to succeed next season. Until that is done, then I have my worries.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/s8JDpof