Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Ineos will face even more intense scrutiny if one of Manchester United’s signings cannot turn around their role in Michael Carrick’s first-team squad at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team have seen the Red Devils endure a bumpy start to the 2026-27 Premier League season, despite investing heavily in the club’s summer window.
Ineos placed a major focus on the midfield rebuild of the Manchester United first-team squad and both Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans arrived at the club in July.
United sent a statement of intent with their summer spending spree after the Red Devils splashed out on the signing of Carlos Baleba from Brighton in August.
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Carlos Baleba was the marquee summer signing, but Andrey Santos is struggling to make his mark at Man Utd
All eyes are on when Carlos Baleba will make his debut after Michael Carrick has relied on the midfield pivot of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans this season. However, a major elephant in the room is what happens to Andrey Santos next after his underwhelming campaign so far.
Santos was the first signing of the ‘Carrick era’ at Manchester United after the Red Devils agreed a deal worth £50m to sign him from Premier League side Chelsea. The 22-year-old Brazilian secured regular playing time in pre-season after he missed out on a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
However, the former Chelsea star’s struggles are now clear after his sporadic appearances for United this season. Santos has only managed five appearances across all competitions and has neither scored nor assisted for United this season.
The Brazil international’s struggles are further amplified by his one start in three Premier League matches, including being an unused substitute in the Fulham and Manchester City fixtures. Just as Santos has started to fade away, the Red Devils summer signing was heavily criticised by former Man Utd player Ben Foster.
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“We spoke about Santos, didn’t we, when he signed in the sum of £50million,” he said on the Fozcast podcast.
“It’s not a throwaway amount of money; it’s 50 million pounds, right? And I said, ‘Hang on a minute, how is somebody that’s not even playing for Chelsea, can’t get in a bang-average Chelsea team, how is he getting a £50million move to Manchester United?’”
Ben Foster’s confusion further extended to the role that Santos is now playing in the Red Devils squad, including the uphill battle he faces in climbing the midfield pecking order. The 43-year-old former England and Man Utd shot-stopper suggested that Santos is at the bottom of the pile when it comes to the two-man pivot role in Carrick’s Man Utd tactics.
“Never in the history of Man United would they do something so silly and desperate as that, and they did it,” Foster added.
“And he’s not playing; he didn’t come on yesterday, he didn’t have a sniff of coming on yesterday. He’s like fourth or fifth choice in that position now; he’s miles off it.”
Santos is now in a race to ensure that he can play a pivotal role in the long-term vision of Man Utd’s midfield and not leave Ineos red-faced with their big-money move for the former Chelsea star.