Andrey Santos Regrets Joining Manchester United? The Truth Behind the Brazilian Midfielder’s Old Trafford Move.
Andrey Santos has quickly become one of the most talked-about midfielders at Manchester United since completing his move from Chelsea, but claims that the Brazilian midfielder already regrets joining the club do not match the available evidence. In fact, Santos has publicly described his move to Old Trafford as a dream and said shortly after arriving that he felt comfortable and already considered Manchester his home.
The 22-year-old midfielder arrived at Manchester United during the summer of 2026 in a deal worth £50 million, with £48 million guaranteed and a further £2 million potentially payable in add-ons. Chelsea also retained a 10 per cent sell-on clause. The transfer represented a major step in Santos’ career and made him the first permanent signing of Michael Carrick’s tenure as United head coach.
Santos had already built an impressive reputation before making the move. He joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and subsequently gained valuable experience through loan spells, including periods at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg. His time in France was particularly important to his development, with Santos establishing himself as an influential midfielder and earning recognition during his 18-month spell with Strasbourg.
When he returned to Chelsea, however, competition for midfield places remained intense. Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández were ahead of him in the pecking order, and Santos made 27 Premier League appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, starting 13 of those matches. That situation helped create the circumstances for his eventual transfer to Manchester United.
Manchester United, meanwhile, were looking to rebuild their midfield. Casemiro had left when his contract expired, while Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee ligament injury during Uruguay’s World Cup campaign. The club therefore needed additional options in the middle of the pitch, and Santos emerged as one of the players identified for the rebuild under Carrick.
The transfer was not simply a case of Manchester United buying a player who happened to be available. Santos had already expressed a strong desire to play for the club.
Speaking after completing his move, the Brazilian explained that playing for Manchester United had been a dream since he was young. He spoke about the history and responsibility associated with the club and said he wanted to fight with his new teammates for the biggest trophies.
Those comments make the idea that Santos immediately regretted joining United difficult to substantiate.
There was also evidence during pre-season that the midfielder was settling into his new surroundings. After appearing in United’s pre-season matches, Santos spoke about his comfort at the club and described Manchester as his home. He said he had felt at home from his first day and expressed happiness about being able to play for the club.
That does not mean his Manchester United career will automatically be successful. The expectations surrounding a £50 million signing are enormous, particularly at a club where midfielders are expected to contribute defensively while also helping the team control matches.
Santos knows that responsibility.
His arrival was partly designed to help replace the experience lost when Casemiro departed. The Brazilian veteran had spent four seasons at Old Trafford and had become an important figure in United’s midfield, particularly during his earlier years at the club. Santos is a different type of midfielder, but United believe he can bring energy, ball-winning ability and the capacity to drive the team forward.
The Premier League’s own analysis highlighted several reasons behind United’s decision to sign him, including his ability to strengthen midfield depth and his experience despite his age. The league also noted that Carrick had selected Santos in his first starting line-up of the 2026/27 campaign.
Santos himself has explained the kind of football he wants to bring to Manchester United. He has spoken about bringing energy, competing for the ball, moving the team forward and giving everything for the club.
Those comments are important because they reveal how the midfielder views his role. He is not arriving at Old Trafford simply to sit on the bench and wait for opportunities. He wants to establish himself as an important part of Carrick’s midfield.
That ambition is understandable considering his experience at Chelsea.
At Stamford Bridge, Santos had to fight for opportunities behind established midfielders. Moving to Manchester United gives him a chance to compete for a more prominent role, particularly following Casemiro’s departure and Ugarte’s injury.
The move therefore represents a significant opportunity rather than something Santos would naturally be expected to regret.
There is also the influence of Carrick.
The former Manchester United midfielder understands the demands of playing in the centre of the pitch at Old Trafford. Santos specifically mentioned his excitement about learning from Carrick when he completed the transfer, describing the manager as someone who could help him take the next step in his career.
That relationship could become one of the most important factors in Santos’ development.
For a young midfielder moving to one of the biggest clubs in England, having a manager with extensive experience in the same position could be extremely valuable. Carrick can help Santos understand when to hold his position, when to move forward, how to manage possession and how to deal with the pressure associated with playing for Manchester United.
Santos’ early performances also provided encouragement.
During United’s pre-season draw against Paris Saint-Germain, he was involved in several positive moments and produced an important defensive intervention. He also came close to scoring with a header. After the match, he spoke positively about the team’s performance and emphasized the importance of continuing to train and improve.
Rather than expressing frustration about his transfer, Santos appeared focused on adapting to his new environment.
This is particularly significant because the first few months at Manchester United can be challenging for any new signing. The club attracts enormous media attention, and every poor performance can generate questions about a player’s price tag and suitability.
Santos will therefore have to deal with criticism if his performances dip.
A £50 million transfer means supporters will expect immediate impact. Some fans will compare him with other midfielders in the Premier League, while others will judge him against the standards previously established by Casemiro.
But Santos’ development should also be considered in the context of his age.
At 22, he is still developing. His career has already included several major moves and loan spells, but he has not yet reached the peak years of a central midfielder.
His experience with Vasco da Gama, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg has exposed him to different footballing environments. Manchester United now represents another major stage in that development.
There is also the possibility that his best football is still ahead of him.
Santos’ career has progressed rapidly since his move from Brazil to Europe. He has already earned senior Brazil caps and has played Premier League football at a relatively young age. Joining Manchester United could give him an opportunity to establish himself at both club and international level.
The pressure will nevertheless remain.
United supporters want trophies, and Santos has already made it clear that competing for major silverware is part of his motivation. He did not join the club simply to increase his number of appearances. He wants to be part of a team capable of challenging for the biggest prizes.
That means the real test will come over the course of the season.
If United experience difficult results, Santos could face questions about whether he can handle the Premier League’s intensity. If the team performs well, his role could become increasingly important.
The midfielder’s ability to adapt tactically will also be crucial.
Carrick’s system requires midfielders who can contribute in multiple phases of the game. Santos needs to demonstrate that he can protect the defence, win possession, move the ball efficiently and contribute to attacks when opportunities arise.
His performances at Strasbourg suggested that he has the technical and physical qualities to operate in several areas of midfield. United’s recruitment team clearly believes those qualities can translate successfully to the Premier League.
Chelsea’s decision to sell him will also continue to attract attention.
The London club had invested heavily in Santos and allowed him to develop through loan spells before bringing him back into the first-team picture. His departure came after a season in which he made 43 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions, according to Reuters, while Chelsea’s own announcement said he left having made 47 appearances for the club overall.
United supporters will now hope that the decision to spend heavily on him proves worthwhile.
For Santos, however, the immediate priority is not proving Chelsea wrong. It is establishing himself at Manchester United.
And that is why the suggestion that he regrets joining the club should be treated cautiously.
There is currently no reliable evidence that Santos has publicly expressed regret over the transfer. The statements available from the player point in the opposite direction. He called joining United a dream, praised the club’s history and said he was excited to work with Carrick. Later, he described Manchester as his home and said he felt comfortable at the club.
Football careers can change quickly, of course. A player can be happy at a club initially and later become frustrated because of injuries, limited playing time, poor results or tactical changes.
But based on the available information, there is no confirmed basis for saying that Andrey Santos regrets joining Manchester United.
Instead, the early indications show a player who is embracing the challenge.
He has joined a club with enormous expectations, inherited a midfield role affected by major departures and injuries, and been given the opportunity to work under a manager who understands the position he plays.
The next stage is now up to Santos.
If he can maintain his development, establish himself as a regular starter and help Manchester United compete for trophies, his £50 million transfer could become an important part of the club’s midfield rebuild.
For now, though, the story is not one of regret.
It is the story of a young Brazilian midfielder who grew up dreaming of representing Manchester United and has finally been given the opportunity to do exactly that. His own early words suggest he is determined to make the most of it.