Paul Scholes has questioned INEOS’ decision to bring in Andrey Santos for £50 million this summer.
Heading into the first international break of the term, the midfielder has started only one Premier League game for Manchester United.
How is Andrey Santos faring?
Indeed, Santos was deployed from the off for United’s season-opener away to newly-promoted Hull City on August 22, and played 67 minutes as the Reds slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat on the road.
The 22-year-old was presumably only included in the starting XI due to the fact that Kobbie Mainoo had a shorter pre-season than the rest of his midfield counterparts, hence Santos losing his place the following week against Ipswich Town.
Andrey Santos' game by numbers vs. Hull City:
100% tackles won (most)
91% pass accuracy
68 touches
52 passes completed
6/8 duels won (most)
5 ball recoveries
3 clearancesWon the ball back well on his Premier League debut for Man Utd. 🛡️ pic.twitter.com/v1Lenx5fTk
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 22, 2026
He featured for just 10 minutes in the win over the Tractor Boys and for six minutes in the draw with Everton – before being an unused substitute for the last two outings against Manchester City and Fulham.
Given Santos was United’s second-most expensive signing of the summer after Carlos Baleba, you can understand the confusion surrounding his lack of action.
The Brazilian international only made the move from Chelsea because he couldn’t displace Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo in the side, but considering the former has since departed for City, he’d have perhaps been best off staying put at Stamford Bridge.
Andrey Santos prepared to be #mufc's new defensive midfielder: 'I like and prefer playing more deep, like a number six.' pic.twitter.com/7PH729AewL
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 9, 2026
Scholes voices Santos concerns
Scholes weighed in on the situation on the latest instalment of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, saying: “It feels quite sad to say this, but Man United are a club now that are not trying to win the league with recruitment.
“Santos [and] Baleba, they’ve brought players in that, physically, they may be better. Santos played 11 games for Chelsea, [and] they paid £50million for him. But he’s not getting into the team. Now, Baleba might make a bit of a difference.
“But again, if you’re recruiting at the start of the season for Manchester United, it should be for players that you think you can go and win the league with. I think they’re a million miles away.
“I think they’re just trying to consolidate from what Michael [Carrick] did last year, which is hard to get your head around. Were United trying to buy an Elliot Anderson? Probably. Now that’s a signing where you think that might help you get a lot better. The players they’ve bought aren’t making them any better.”
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