Andrey Santos is reportedly growing increasingly frustrated with his lack of regular playing time at Manchester United, just months after completing a high-profile move to Old Trafford and arriving with huge expectations on his shoulders.
The Brazilian midfielder joined United from Chelsea during the summer in a deal worth an initial £48 million, with a further £2 million potentially available in add-ons. He signed a contract running until 2031 and arrived believing he could establish himself as an important part of Michael Carrick’s midfield.
However, Santos’ start to life at Manchester United has been far more difficult than he would have expected. Despite being brought in to strengthen Carrick’s midfield options, the 22-year-old has struggled to secure a consistent place in the starting XI.
His situation has become particularly frustrating because Santos did not move to Manchester simply to provide squad depth. The Brazilian had reportedly been looking for a pathway to regular first-team football when he decided to leave Chelsea, making his current situation at Old Trafford especially difficult to accept.
Santos arrived at United with a strong reputation and considerable experience despite his young age. During his time at Chelsea, he spent periods on loan at Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before establishing himself more prominently at Stamford Bridge during the 2025-26 campaign, when he made 43 appearances.
That level of involvement gave him confidence that he was ready to take another major step in his career. Manchester United appeared to offer the perfect opportunity, particularly after Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s injury created additional midfield uncertainty.
Instead, Santos has found himself fighting for opportunities.
The statistics underline the problem. According to match-log data, Santos has made just three Premier League appearances so far this season, accumulating only 84 minutes, while he has also played 27 minutes in the Champions League.
For a player who joined for a significant transfer fee and was expected to compete for an important midfield role, those numbers are understandably disappointing.
Santos’ first competitive appearance for United offered little indication of what was to come. He started alongside Youri Tielemans against Hull City on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, but both midfielders struggled as United suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat. Santos was substituted after 66 minutes.
The performance immediately placed pressure on the new midfield partnership.
United subsequently changed their midfield options, and Santos found himself increasingly used from the bench rather than trusted from the beginning. He made short appearances against Ipswich Town and Everton before being left unused against Manchester City and Fulham.
That pattern has inevitably raised questions about his position within Carrick’s plans.
The situation could become even more complicated following the arrival of Carlos Baleba. United have invested heavily in strengthening the midfield, and the competition for places is now intense. Santos, Tielemans, Baleba, Kobbie Mainoo and other midfield options are all competing for limited opportunities.
For Santos, the timing could hardly be more frustrating.
He moved to Old Trafford hoping to become a regular Premier League player, but instead he has found himself having to fight simply to get onto the pitch.
There is also an important psychological element to the situation.
Santos is still relatively young, and regular football is arguably more important to his development than simply being part of a large squad. A player can train at the highest level every day, but competitive matches are where confidence, consistency and tactical understanding are developed.
Santos therefore has every reason to want more opportunities.
His performances for Brazil during the international break have also demonstrated that he remains an important player in the thinking of national-team coach Carlo Ancelotti. Santos played 30 minutes against Australia before starting Brazil’s 4-0 victory over India, playing around an hour in the latter match.
That contrast could be significant.
While his club opportunities have been limited, Santos continues to receive chances at international level. Naturally, that could increase his desire to return to Manchester and prove to Carrick that he deserves a more prominent role.
Brazilian media have already scrutinised his performances. Following the 4-0 win over India, Globo and GZH both reportedly gave Santos a rating of 6/10, with the assessments acknowledging his defensive work but questioning his creative influence.
Those assessments suggest that Santos still has work to do, but they also show why he may feel that regular club football is essential if he wants to continue progressing.
The midfielder’s frustration does not necessarily mean that he wants to leave Manchester United immediately. There is still a long way to go in the season, and Santos has a long-term contract at Old Trafford.
Instead, his frustration can be viewed as a desire for clarity.
He needs to know what Carrick expects from him.
He needs opportunities to demonstrate that he can play at Premier League level.
And, most importantly, he needs to feel that his development is moving forward.
Carrick, meanwhile, has difficult decisions to make. Manchester United are competing across several competitions, meaning there should theoretically be opportunities for squad rotation. But the manager is also under pressure to produce results, and that naturally makes him more likely to rely on players he trusts in important matches.
Santos must therefore take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.
His first start against Hull was not ideal, but it would be unfair to judge his entire Manchester United career on one difficult afternoon. United as a whole struggled badly in that match, with Carrick admitting afterward that the team had plenty to improve.
The Brazilian needs a sustained run of matches before a definitive judgment can be made.
There is also the possibility that his situation could change rapidly.
Football squads are unpredictable. Injuries, suspensions, tactical changes and fixture congestion can completely alter a player’s position within a team. A midfielder who appears to be on the fringes one month can suddenly become indispensable the next.
Santos will be hoping exactly that happens.
His technical ability, physical qualities and experience in different midfield systems make him an interesting option for United. He has already experienced football in Brazil, England and France, and those experiences have helped him develop a more complete understanding of the game.
The challenge now is convincing Carrick that he deserves to play.
The arrival of Baleba could make that challenge even greater. United’s midfield competition is becoming increasingly fierce, and every player will need to perform at a high level to secure a starting position.
Santos therefore faces a crucial period.
If he remains patient and continues working hard in training, his opportunity could eventually arrive. But if his playing time remains extremely limited for a prolonged period, questions will inevitably emerge about whether Manchester United is providing the environment he expected when he made the move.
That is particularly relevant because Santos reportedly pushed for a Chelsea exit partly because he wanted a clearer pathway to first-team football.
Moving from Chelsea to United was supposed to represent a step forward in that respect.
Instead, he has found himself facing another battle for regular minutes.
For now, Santos’ response will be closely watched. The Brazilian has the opportunity to turn his frustration into motivation rather than allowing it to affect his performances.
Manchester United invested heavily in him because they believe he can become an important midfielder. His contract length demonstrates that the club views him as a long-term asset rather than a short-term signing.
The responsibility is now on both sides.
Carrick must find a way to develop and utilise a player who was signed for a significant fee, while Santos must show that he has the quality and consistency required to force his way into the team.
One thing is clear: Santos did not join Manchester United to spend his prime development years watching from the bench.
He came to Old Trafford believing he could become an important player.
And as his frustration continues to grow, the coming weeks could be crucial in determining whether he finally gets the regular opportunities he has been waiting for or whether his difficult start at Manchester United becomes an increasingly serious problem.