2 key passes, 2 tackles won: New United signing catches the eye despite Wrexham defeat

Manchester United kicked off their pre-season with a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki on Saturday, 18 July. The Premier League giants included their new signing Andrey Santos in the travelling squad for the game, generating excitement among fans about a possible debut. The young midfielder arrived at Old Trafford last week from Chelsea as part of a midfield revamp following Casemiro’s departure. INEOS have also signed Youri Tielemans to strengthen the middle of the park, while Karl Darlow has been brought in to bolster the goalkeeping department. However, neither of them was available for the pre-season tie against the Championship side. Santos, however, was fit enough to feature and was included in the starting XI, stationed alongside Mason Mount in midfield. Harry Maguire wore the armband in the absence of Bruno Fernandes, who is on extended leave following his involvement at the 2026 World Cup. United start pre-season with defeat Contrary to expectations, Wrexham made the brighter start, with United looking a little off the pace. The Championship side had begun their pre-season earlier than the Red Devils, and this was evident at the beginning of the game. The Premier League giants, however, grew into the game and had some good moments of their own. However, it was the Welsh side who took the lead through Sam Smith in the 39th minute, going into the break with a slender lead. Carrick changed his entire starting XI at the break, fielding academy stars, including Toby Collyer and Shea Lacey. The Red Devils piled on the pressure on Wrexham in the second half and soon took control of the proceedings. However, a breakthrough eluded them, and Wrexham held on to secure a narrow victory. Despite the defeat, Michael Carrick will be pleased with the performance of his new midfielder, Santos. Santos has a decent debut Santos gave a good impression of himself in the first 45 minutes. The Brazilian had 55 touches of the ball, with only Harry Maguire (58) managing more for United. Santos attempted 42 passes with a 93% passing accuracy and registered two key passes. He managed two long balls, one of which was accurate. The 22 year old was engaged in six duels, winning four of them, gave the ball away four times, and was fouled once. The Brazilian also made two interceptions and won two tackles. Santos also attempted one dribble, but it was unsuccessful. While the Brazilian failed to register a shot, it was a decent start to his spell with United. Andrey Santos Stats vs Wrexham StatisticAndrey Santos Touches55 Accurate Passes39/42 (93%) Key Passes2 Crosses (Accurate)- Long Balls (Accurate)2 (1) Shots on Target0 Shots off Target0 Shots Blocked (Attack)0 Dribbles (Successful)1 (0) Duels (Won)6 (4) Ground Duels (Won)6 (4) Aerial Duels (Won)- Possession Lost4 Fouls1 Was Fouled2 Clearances0 Blocked Shots (Defence)0 Interceptions2 Tackles (Won)2 Dribbled Past0 Source: Sofascore. Final Thoughts United really need Santos to hit the ground running next season, given that they are going to be competing on four fronts, including the Champions League. Following the Brazilian’s good start in a makeshift starting XI, fans have every right to be hopeful for the future. Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.