There are some big names in this Chelsea side: Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez, and so on. But one player is proving to be criminally underrated since Liam Rosenior took over, in Andrey Santos.
Bought by Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for £18m, it is incredible to think that Santos is approaching three years on the Stamford Bridge books. Yet, under Liam Rosenior, he is only just making an impact.
His first season was spent at boyhood club Vasco Da Gama on loan, after Chelsea bought the Brazil star from them. Then, in 2024, he went on loan to Nottingham Forest, a loan spell that many forget about.
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What a performance from the Brazilian!
Chelsea players v Leeds.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
After two games, he was recalled and sent to Strasbourg, which proved to be the making of Santos. He spent 18 months in France, much of which was under Rosenior and is now sparkling in a Chelsea shirt.
Liam Rosenior and Owen Hargreaves in awe of Andrey Santos
Returning from Strasbourg after scoring 11 goals during 2024-25, many Blues fans thought the Brazilian would be an attacking option. Instead, and under Rosenior certainly, he’s been playing deep in midfield.
On TNT Sports’ The Breakdown this week, Owen Hargreaves and Rosenior raved about the Brazilian, who at 21, is only just getting started. Rosenior knew early on that he had a player on his hands in France.
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior embracing Andrey Santos
Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images
Hargreaves and Rosenior were analysing a clip of Santos that saw him flick a pass around the corner first time, in transition, during the 4-1 win over Aston Villa. Hargreaves began, saying: “I love Andrey Santos.”
The former Man United and Bayern star continued: “I remember watching him for the first time, touched one ball and I thought, he’s a player. Such an underrated pass, that around the corner with his left.”
Rosenior replied: “He’s crucial. He’s a special player. I worked with him at Strasbourg and after a week, he’s 21, but his football brain for his age is special, it’s elite. He’s going to have an incredible career.”
Enzo Maresca did not appreciate what he had with Santos
It will have come as no surprise to see that Rosenior is using Santos a whole lot more than Enzo Maresca did following his return from Strasbourg, given Rosenior enjoyed so much success with Santos in France.
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Carlo Ancelotti thinks it's Estevao…
Joao Pedro, Andrey Santos and Estevao Willian's World Cup chances
Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images
But Maresca did not appreciate what he had. Santos earned just nine starts for Chelsea in all competitions this season before Rosenior’s arrival, and three of those nine starts came in the Carabao Cup.
Rosenior knows Santos so well that he even switched the position Santos played in France, from an attacking source to more of a defensive shield. One that has been crucial for Chelsea, transitionally.
Whether Santos starts against PSG on Wednesday night remains to be seen. Rosenior could well use Reece James alongside Moises Caicedo in the middle of the park, but Santos is now a key figure.
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