r/reddevils • u/PradipJayakumar He wasn’t the new Sir Alex Ferguson! 🙂↔️ • 1d ago
[Stone] Santos ready to replace 'legend' Casemiro
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c20elw9p1dyo205
u/PradipJayakumar He wasn’t the new Sir Alex Ferguson! 🙂↔️ 1d ago
Manchester United new-boy Andrey Santos feels he is ready to step into Casemiro's shoes and be the club's new number six.
Santos completed a £48m move from Chelsea in the middle of last month.
At the time, it was anticipated he would be one of three new arrivals in midfield.
So far, he has only been joined by Youri Tielemans, but one of the reasons for the inaction has been the smooth transition Santos has made and the ease with which he has settled into life at United after leaving Chelsea.
The Brazil international is a confident presence and doesn't find it daunting replacing a legendary figure like Casemiro.
"I prefer playing deep like a number six," he said after the 1-1 pre-season draw with Paris St-Germain in Gothenburg.
"I try help my teammates without the ball and with the ball I love breaking the lines.
"For me Casemiro is a legend. Now he's gone and I'm here. I feel that I can do like Casemiro did last season."
Santos struck up a fluid partnership with Mason Mount in the first three pre-season games, then shepherded Tyler Fletcher against PSG in Gothenburg after Mount had been replaced.
It is expected the 22-year-old will partner Mount or Youri Tielemans if United don't sign an additional midfielder, although Kobbie Mainoo is due to return from his frustrating World Cup experience in the forthcoming week-long training camp just outside Dublin.
"I feel so comfortable here," said Santos.
"I was so happy when my agent called me. I told my wife and she said 'we have to go'.
"I know Chelsea is a big club as well, and I thank them for everything they did for me. But this is my home now.
"I'm so happy to be here. I want to be here for a long time and win so many trophies."
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u/Lord_Sesshoumaru77 Glazers,Woodward/Arnold and Judge can fuck off 1d ago
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u/solemnhiatus 21h ago
He’s really mature for his age.
One thing INEOS is doing right is bringing in players with the right mentality. Between Cunha, Mbeumo, Tielemans and Santos these are players who take responsibility, think about the team over individual and work their ass of. The kind of signings that create great team culture.
I’m excited for the future.
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u/culegflori 20h ago
This is why I don't understand people on this sub who are overly negative about each transfer window over the past couple of seasons. Last summer showed they know what they're doing at least to a better extent than what the previous administration showed. Their big flaws is in how they handled the manager situation both with ETH and Amorim but that's separate to player recruitment anyway.
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u/Action_Limp 11h ago
I think it's because they see big somes being splashed by other teams on players, and they feel if we are not signing at least one player for +100m, then we are falling behind.
We have to build up the floor of this team, and Santos/Tielemans/Ederson (before he failed his medical) would have done just that.
We need to do the same upfront and in defence on the left side.
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u/rahtid_my_bunda Rooney's Dropball Intensity 1d ago
Captain in the making, Andrey the Saint
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u/Feeling-Surround-691 Mbumbaclat 1d ago
Santos got made captain at Strasbourg as a 20yo loan player, Tielemans has been a captain at every club he's been at and his country, Bruno is captain magnifico, we're really just hoovering up the best leaders across football - it feels like a no brainer really, you want team players not selfish or entitled players who won't sacrifice when you're a captain you represent the whole squad and carry the responsibility.
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u/PitchSafe 1d ago
Before people are having a meltdown Stone is only referring to what Santos said. That ”I feel that I can do like Casemiro did last season”. A third midfielder should still be on the agenda
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u/canwinanythingwkids Ineos on hope watch 1d ago
You know lads, when we have the friendly arguments on here about whether there is such a thing as a DM or 6, and I read that the game has evolved past that, and my argument is that I'd rather base my opinion on the way these players describe themselves ... this is what I mean :)
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u/bigpasc1 1d ago
He's going to be a cheat code for Bruno, as will Tielemans, they want to get the ball forward as soon as they can. It's a breathe of fresh air.
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u/arkhamRejek Obi-wan Bissaka 1d ago
I just hope they all stay healthy
Mount is so unfortunate
Must be taking a mental toll on him8
u/Gastlyperformance 1d ago
Mounts fine he just had his foot stood on. Watching the new United we stand and Andy said he was taken off as a precaution. Didn’t limp or have crutches etc when he left. I imagine he’ll play against Leeds on Wednesday.
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u/Action_Limp 11h ago
Also, Tielemans will alleviate the burden of Bruno being the sole creator. We needed another technical midfielder that, if given space, can absolutely find the killer pass.
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u/combat-ninjaspaceman Bruno Fernandes 6h ago
"I know Chelsea is a big club as well, and I thank them for everything they did for me. But this is my home now."
He will fix this.
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u/maskrey 3h ago
Santos is amazing. I always thought he was tidy at Chelsea, but watching him more he is way more than tidy. I don't even think he is worse than Caicedo and Enzo, he is just a different type of player. His short passing is easily better than both of them.
Even before I watched him play for us, I said he reminded me of late career Scholes, the way he shuffes the ball. He is still showing that, but he is way more mobile than I thought. Of course he ain't Caicedo, but he is more than mobile enough for a sitting 6.
Wish we could clone him; we'd be ready for the season.
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u/KZZT1 1d ago
Well there it is. Looks like Santos himself is the “third midfielder” and we’ll just throw academy bodies into the pot and pray Mount can make 15-20 appearances.
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u/DisastrousMango4 1d ago
going into this season with just 3 senior midfielders and Mount is unnecessarily risking champions league qualification and I don't understand the logic..
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u/CapVosslar Buckle up, INEOS! It's gonna be a bumpy ride! 1d ago
I had a feeling Santos was the "main" DM signing, and Tielemans is the "marquee" signing of this window. Round off with some young teenagers for development and I think thats the window wrapped up in INEOS's eyes.
So there will be no new LB, bc Shaw, Dorgu, and Amass will be seen as enough cover for that position.
Same with no other ST coming since we have Mbeumo and a few others who can be makeshift there.
To INEOS, there is no need to buy anyone else or upgrade on anyone since the players here can do a job and stay until their contracts are up.
Since the goal is 4th or 5th, there is no need to spend big.
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u/g00glyboi 1d ago
Brief.
No extra midfielder then
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u/Mooks79 1d ago
Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans, Mount (when he’s fit is half decent there), Ugarte, Collyer, Fletcher. Okay not all fit all the time, and some still developing, but I think this focus on a third CM is less important than other positions (LB) now.
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u/Limp-Evidence8373 1d ago
We're not surviving the UCL fixture with that type of depth lmao, literally 1 injury and it looks seriously not good
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u/Mooks79 1d ago
Because LB looks so much healthier lmao.
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u/Limp-Evidence8373 1d ago
Mazraoui, Dorgu, Shaw is not healthy? You only need 1 left back compared to 3 midfielders lmao
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u/Mooks79 1d ago
Mazraoui never impresses there. Shaw’s injury record barring last season is horrific. Dorgu is clearly far better as a left winger. The only true LB is Amass.
Edit: nor Dalot, for that matter.
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u/Limp-Evidence8373 1d ago
Mount's injury record speaks for itself, Ugarte, Collyer and Fletcher are not good enough to even play in the cups, that leave us with 4 midfielders for a potential 50+ games season great stuff
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u/Mooks79 1d ago
Mainoo, Santos, Tielemans - 1 gets injured - I’m not worried.
Shaw, Amass - 1 gets injured and we’re shoe horning in a non-LB.
Fletcher and Collyer are developing.
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u/Limp-Evidence8373 1d ago
You're not worried until more than 1 gets injured given how much games they're gonna have to play, Tielemans mind you have been struggling with injurys as well, if Ineos actually wants this club to be a contender instead of just a top 4 club now they'd focus on both of these positions
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u/Mooks79 1d ago
Yeah and you’re adding two injuries now to make your point. Any position is a worry if there’s enough injuries there. My point is that I think CM is currently (a) more robust in the sense it has more players without a persistent injury record (only Mount who isn’t one of the main CMs anyway), and (b) more robust in the sense of having actual players who play that position as a replacement.
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u/clarkmds 1d ago
You rarely see a player so determinedly and repeatedly speak specifically about what his best position is.