Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has concerns about the club’s summer signing Andrey Santos.
Rene Meulensteen has questioned whether Andrey Santos can make the same impact as some of Manchester United’s other midfield additions after his £50 million move from Chelsea this summer.
The former Manchester United assistant manager raised his concerns following the Red Devils’ summer recruitment drive, which saw the club prioritise midfield signings following Casemiro’s free transfer to Inter Miami and Manuel Ugarte’s serious ACL injury at the World Cup.
The Red Devils ultimately signed Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba for a combined £155 million. However, Meulensteen believes United may have been better served by sacrificing one midfield signing and using the funds to strengthen another area of the squad.
The Dutchman has specifically raised questions over Santos’s level and his role within Michael Carrick’s midfield, with his uncertainty over the £50 million investment highlighting the competition Santos faces to establish himself as a regular starter at Old Trafford.
Speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, Meulensteen said, “To be fairly honest, I don’t think Santos and Baleba are that similar. But I had a bit of a scratch of the head when I heard United were paying that much money (£50m) to sign Santos from a direct competitor like Chelsea – you have to ask yourself why Chelsea were so keen to let him go.
“While both are good on the ball, Baleba brings far more power and explosiveness – he’s the one I think, when fit, could really make a difference. Santos is more of a link player. In the big games, I think we will end up seeing more of Baleba than Santos.
“When you look at the midfield combinations – whether it’s Mainoo, Tielemans, or Baleba – that’s where I see United’s two coming from, with Bruno [Fernandes] given the freedom to express himself further forward.”
Will Santos establish himself as a key figure at Manchester United?
Meulensteen was keen to dismiss comparisons between Santos and Baleba, insisting that the two midfielders offer different qualities. The Brazilian made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, contributing seven goals and accumulating more than 2,400 minutes, demonstrating his role as a rotational option at Stamford Bridge.
However, Meulensteen believes Baleba’s physical attributes could make the former Brighton midfielder more influential in the biggest matches once he returns to full fitness. United’s midfield rebuild was one of the major objectives of the summer, and the club’s hierarchy will hope all three additions can justify their considerable investment.
For Santos, the challenge is particularly significant. With Tielemans, Baleba and Kobbie Mainoo competing for midfield roles and Bruno Fernandes expected to operate further forward, the Brazilian must establish himself quickly at Old Trafford. However, Meulensteen certainly believes the 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder might find it difficult to break into Carrick’s preferred XI.